LATEST DUBLIN CITY NEWS

• “Proposed changes to retail guidelines will cost jobs, compromise main streets and cause more dereliction - An Taisce”

  03-01-2012

  Jobs will be lost and main streets will suffer if Forfas gets its way on Retail Planning  according to a recent An Taisce  Press Release

• Rejuvenating Dublin's Tourism Product

  23-12-2011

  Dublin City Business Association commissioned Jerome Casey and Felim O’Rourke to undertake a study of tourism in Dublin and to make least-cost recommendations for its rejuvenation. The World Tourism Organisation concluded (in relation to Ireland) that "there appears to be very little correlation between marketing spending by National Tourism Organisations and international arrivals". 
  

  Within Ireland, there is a mismatch between the Irish tourism market and the public resources devoted to it. 

  33 existing tourist attractions in Dublin were reviewed, and low-cost initiatives suggested for their improvement.

  From 2000 – 2010 Ireland’s share of world tourism visitors has fallen sharply. In 2004, Ireland changed from being a destination country for incoming tourists to an origin country for Irish, outgoing tourists.

  Dublin must move from passive approval of tourist activities to an active development of tourism as a priority industry in regenerating the city’s economy. 

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  .

Operation FreeFlow

Tuesday the 24th of October 2006

Operation FreeFlow is Dublin's traffic management plan for the Christmas period. Running from Monday 27th November until Sunday the 7th January, it involves all transport agencies in the Greater Dublin Area.

John Henry, Chief Executive Officer of the Dublin Transport office said "Helping people get around our city is a daily challenge for the transport and traffic managers." The number of trips into Dublin City increases by about 10% at Christmas time. This is a result of the city's great attractions which include; shopping, shows, restaurants and its unsurpassable night life. These aspects not only have a broad appeal to people from Dublin but from the rest of Ireland and overseas as well; this results in more people being out and about on our streets a lot more frequently in the run up to Christmas.

The operation FreeFlow team is comprised of representatives of the Garda, the DTO, Dublin Local Authorities, Dublin Bus, Luas, Bus Eireann and the Dublin City Business Association. They have all been working together over the past four months to ensure that Dublin's traffic is managed in the most practical and efficient way possible during the busiest time of the year.

In addition to regular QBC, regional and local services, the transport agencies are also providing extensive Nitelink Bus services, a Bus Eireann Nightrider service- for longer distances travellers, longer Luas service hours on both Red and Green lines and additional train services. There will also be a Garda presence on late night public transport to ensure passenger safety.

The popular Luas park-and-ride facilities will have additional late night Luas services on both lines. Over 160 additional Gardaí will also be supplementing the normal Garda traffic resources, in order to avoid congestion and keep traffic in the city moving. The instant co-ordination of activities through the Dublin Regional Traffic Control Centre at Harcourt Square is the heart of Operation FreeFlow. From here, the Garda will respond to traffic problems as they emerge.

All road works, with the exception of the M50 upgrade, are banned on main roads. Car park management plans and a city centre truck breakdown towing service will also be operating.

The Regional Control Centre has also expanded its Variable Message sign service. This will provide key messages across the main road network this year. The Drive-time Radio station 103.2FM runs live updates on traffic and where to avoid Mon- Fri 7am-10am and 4pm-7pm.

The Dublin Transportation Office's dedicated website at www.freeflow.ie will give instant and up to date information about travel, shopping and entertainment options throughout the city over Christmas. It will also include a Journey Planner.