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. 

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

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Sutton to Sandycove (S2S) seafront promenade and cycleway project announced

Sunday the 12th of November 2006

The Taoiseach Bertie Ahern T.D. and the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Mr. Dick Roche T.D., on the 12th of November announced their commitment to promote and support a proposal to upgrade and join up various existing sections of promenade and cycleways to form a continuous route around the 22 kilometres of seafront of Dublin Bay. 7.5 kilometres of new promenade/cycleway would need to be constructed, roughly half in Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown and half in Dublin City Council's functional area.

"Dublin Bay is a marvellous amenity that would be the envy of any capital city. It provides a sweeping and attractive vista, from Killiney Hill in the south, to Howth in the north. It encompasses excellent beaches as well as important environmental conservation areas, and is an exciting recreational resource," said the Taoiseach.

The enjoyment of this great asset should be available not just to those directly engaged in water sports and recreation activities, but to the wider community in Dublin and the many tourists that flock to Dublin each year. If achieved, this would constitute one of the longest, if not the longest, urban seafront promenade in Europe, virtually level for its entire length.

Conceptually, this is a highly desirable project. It would greatly enhance the amenity of the bay, improve north-south links in the city, facilitate commuting to and from the city centre in an environmentally sustainable manner, enhance the attraction of Dublin for tourists, and facilitate exercise in a safe public environment.

Minister Roche confirmed his commitment to the project; "This is a highly desirable project, which I am anxious to promote. It is more complicated then perhaps might be anticipated at first sight, and several public bodies have a role to play in its delivery. In some areas, there is the potential to link S2S with forthcoming public investment in necessary flood protection and water service works. With five areas of ecological or ornithological importance, we must be very sensitive to potential environmental impacts." There are technical and safety issues associated with works along the DART/railway line on the southside and the interests and rights of private property holders along the seafront must be accommodated.

Dublin City Council, in coordination with Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, is commissioning feasibility and preliminary design studies for the provision of S2S in the two main gaps where no facilities currently exist-the Bull Island causeway to the Bull Wall, and Sandymount Strand to Dun Laoghaire pier.

Dublin City Council are also commissioning a topographical survey, initial site investigation, and cost estimates in respect of the provision of an 8 metre wide combined promenade/ cycleway in two areas which currently have no such facilities;

• Phase 1, on the northside, the 1.3km section between the Bull Island Causeway and the Wooden Bridge /Bull Wall (Clontarf Road and James Larkin Road); and
• Phase 2, on the southside, the 6km section between Sean Moore Park and the East pier at Dun Laoghaire.

This is a significant project, which will require considerable time and investment. Without overreaching it may even be possible in due course to see this integrated promenade and cycleway being extended into North Wicklow.

The Dublin Regional Authority commissioned a Preliminary Design and Environmental Study of the project. This identified an optimum route, broke it down into 16 distinct sections and examined each in some detail. It proposed an overall design approach for each section and also identified a range of environmental and other issues that would have to be addressed.

The main gaps in the existing network of promenades and cycleways are in the following areas (north to south)-

• Sutton Strand
• Dollymount/North Bull Island
• North inner city (East Wall Road/North Lotts)
• Sandymount Strand (north)
• Merrion Gates to Brighton Vale and Seapoint.

The preferred route through the city centre is from East Wall road, through East Road to New Wapping Street, across the Liffey, then east along the campshires to Sean Moore Park and Sandymount Strand. The Dublin Dockland Development Authority (DDDA) is prepared to provide funding for the provision of S2S along East Wall Road in 2007. The DDDA and Dublin City Council are considering possible temporary measures in the Ringsend area to provide S2S linkages pending the completion of proposed bridges over the rivers Liffey and Dodder.