In late 2025, Dublin City Council members signed off on a €114 million plan to tackle the scourge of dereliction in the city centre; now, they are discussing how exactly the plan will be implemented.
At this month’s meeting of Dublin City Council, councillors discussed the government’s recent plans to bring derelict buildings back into public use, with some councillors saying more needed to be done on the cultural side of things, while others were questioning the level of funding for the project.
Green councillor Donna Cooney said that enhancing Dublin’s cultural sphere was just as important as bringing derelict buildings back into use.
She said that, at present, the cultural aspect of it is “a little bit lacking” in the planning stage,” and asked for councillors to have more input in that regard.
The Clontarf councillor said that cultural institutions being open at weekends were a small step to improving culture in the city centre, but said that night markets would be beneficial in helping the city come alive after hours.
Cooney’s colleague, Janet Horner, said that if done well, the plan could be “transformative” for the city centre.
“It could really change not just the specific buildings, but the culture of how we approach our city centre; we’ve gotten used to looking at buildings that are just half-alive,” she remarked.
Fellow North Inner City councillor Janice Boylan (Sinn Féin), said that there is “momentum and drive” in revitalising the city centre, but noted “we cannot forget our history and our historic buildings,” saying that the preservation of the Moore Street market should be part of the Council’s plans for the city centre.
Fellow Sinn Féin councillor Micheál Mac Donncha said, “if you look at the area (North Inner City), one of the main attractions is the historical walking tours, and that needs to be recognised as a central part of what’s being done here.”
The Donaghmede councillor said that further “clarity” was needed on the future of the GPO; he said that the government’s plans to redevelop it were “sketchy,” and noted that future development of the city centre should take place in tandem with the proposed redevelopment of the GPO.
Social Democrats councillor Daniel Ennis said that the process needs to be “adequately funded,” saying there was a “big song and dance” at election time about the revitalisation of Dublin City Centre, but with relatively little progress or word on it from the government since then.
The North Inner City councillor said that the project needed a ring-fenced funding stream from central government, adding, “if we don’t get it, we’re going to be looking at our city in 25 years time and it’s still going to be the same and if not worse.”
Independent councillor John Lyons remarked, “if you were to ask the general public what they wanted on Moore Street, would it be another UK high street retailer or would they like a battlefield site that is protected or an appreciation of our culture and heritage?”
Lyons said, “because local government is so weak, this is an attempt to stitch it back together, with a focus on one part of the city, but one of the most important parts of it.”