Dublin City Taskforce Report launched

The Dublin City Taskforce has unveiled its new report recommending ‘Ten Big Moves’ to rejuvenate the city centre.

Launched by Taoiseach Simon Harris at the GPO today, The Dublin City Taskforce was established by the Government in May 2024 to take a “holistic view of the measures required to rejuvenate Dublin City Centre, north and south.”

David McRedmond, CEO of An Post, acted as the Independent Chair and membership of the Taskforce was represented by key agencies working in the city centre in public service, community health, business and union, arts, culture and tourism as well as private sector representatives in the fields of architecture, urbanism and design.

The Taskforce was mandated to take an evidence-informed approach in its work and to provide recommendations to improve the City Centre’s public realm, safety, and experience.

The goal is to make Dublin City Centre a more thriving, attractive, and safe cityscape; and a desirable location to live, work, do business and visit.

Speaking at today’s launch, Taoiseach Simon Harris said: “We need our city centre to be a place that attracts more people to live, work, do business and visit.

“I welcome the taskforce’s recommendations particularly the focus on revitalising O’Connell street and making great use of the iconic GPO building.

“I want a new vision for our capital city for the young, old and tourists who want to continue to visit our city centre time and time again.

“It deserves a brighter future. It deserves dedicated resources, and it deserves a vision. We now have it.”

The Ten Big Moves outlined in the report are:

Big Move 1 – Revitalise O’Connell Street and environs.

Big Move 2 – Prioritise the total regeneration of social housing complexes in the city centre

Big Move 3 – Convert derelict sites into high-density residential with provision for essential workers.

Big Move 4 – Make policing and security more visible and add 1000 more Gardaí

Big Move 5 – Deliver more targeted and better located services for vulnerable populations in city centre

Big Move 6 – Implement a dedicated waste management plan for the city centre.

Big Move 7 – Operate the City Centre Transport Plan with agility.

Big Move 8 – Offer Dubliners compelling reasons to visit the city centre.

Big Move 9 – Create a marketing and communications function for Dublin.

Big Move 10 – Evolve appropriate governance for a capital city.

The recommendations of the Task Force report should be implemented in full, as soon as possible, according to Dublin Town, the collective voice of business in the city centre.

And Dublin Town CEO Richard Guiney, who represented city businesses on the Task Force, said the report is a deliverable blueprint for the rejuvenation of the city centre.

Welcoming the report, Mr Guiney said both recurring issues and the untapped potential of the city centre are addressed and that an immediate delivery vehicle must be urgently established to ensure its full implementation.

Dublin Town called for the establishment of a task force to realise the city’s potential in December 2023, following the publication of its own four point plan to rejuvenate the city.

“We are pleased to see so many of the themes of our four point plan incorporated into this broader more comprehensive report,” Mr Guiney said.

“We are confident the full implementation of the Taskforce report will result in a new and prosperous era for our city.

“Dublin, like many major cities throughout the world, has been majorly challenged, post pandemic.

“Shifts in work patterns, changes in consumer choices and complex social needs have all put strains on existing infrastructure.

“Now is the time to articulate a collective vision for Dublin City centre and put in place the means to achieve it.”

Mr Guiney said ongoing research by the business body confirmed a low mood amongst Dublin residents as to the state of their city.

“They are saddened the city is struggling.  They want to see that the political will exists, across all parties, to comprehensively address their concerns.

“But Dubliners still fundamentally love Dublin and wish to take pride in it.

“The public mood is mirrored by the business community.”

Mr Guiney said he was confident the business community and city centre residents will back rejuvenation once they see progress.

“This is a pivotal moment for Dublin, with its future at stake.  It is time to realise our shared ambition by promptly co-ordinating the efforts of all stakeholders.

“The report offers a chance for Dublin to move forward at a challenging time, but this requires goodwill across the board.

“Dublin Town will work assiduously to play its part on behalf of city businesses.

“It is in the entire country’s economic interest for Dublin to regain forward momentum.

“Now we have a generational opportunity to accelerate the city’s progress.

“We must grasp this chance and reclaim the city so many of us have been so proud of,” Mr. Guiney concluded.