Government launches Dublin City Taskforce Report

The Taoiseach today, 21 October 2024, launched the Report of the Dublin City Taskforce at the GPO on O’Connell Street.

The Dublin City Taskforce Report is available here: Dublin City Taskforce Report

The Taskforce was appointed 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, served as Independent Chair of the Taskforce and presented his report to the Taoiseach in September 2024.

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.

To deliver on these missions, the Taskforce identified ten ‘Big Moves’ that they recommend should be addressed.

The Department of the Taoiseach will now convene an Interdepartmental Group to examine the Taskforce’s recommendations and prepare a Report by mid-December for consideration by Government.

Speaking at the launch, Taoiseach Simon Harris, said: 

“When I became Taoiseach, I said we needed a plan of action to renew and our city centre.

 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.”

Tánaiste Micheál Martin said:

“I welcome the launch of this important report which sets out recommendations to revitalise Dublin city centre.  This Government is committed to breathing new life into our capital city – for the communities who live and work there, and for those who come to visit Dublin city centre. The publication of this report is another key step in that process, and we will now consider the ‘Big Moves’ put forward by the Taskforce.”

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Roderic O’Gorman, said:

“One of the most welcome aspects of this report is the emphasis it places on the city centre as a city centre as somewhere to live and not just to work. Quality public spaces, parks and public transport are key to ensuring that our existing city centre communities can thrive and are joined by lots more residents in the future.”

Lord Mayor of Dublin Cllr James Geoghegan added:

“Dublin is a fantastic place, a city steeped in culture, arts, music, and history. The implementation of the recommendations in this Report will deliver a Dublin that the whole country can be proud of.”

Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee said:

“I will continue to prioritise safety and security on the streets of our capital city. It is imperative that people are safe and feel safe. Garda numbers are strengthening and 64% of the latest Garda intakes were allocated to Dublin. I am ensuring Gardaí have more resources and better equipment with which to police our streets. I have also begun the rollout of body worn cameras, starting with Dublin Gardaí, which will provide them with a vital evidence gathering tool when investigating incidents, and I will legislate for facial recognition technology to strengthen this.”

Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, Paschal Donohoe, said:

“Today’s launch is good news for the city centre.  The recommendations contained in this Report will dovetail with the good work already underway to rejuvenate the city centre including that of the North East Inner City Initiative and the City Coordination Office.  This Report and the recommendations within will be a vital resource in informing this Governments continued ambition to improve our city centre, of that I am sure.”

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, said:

“This is a really welcome report which seeks to complement the good work already underway to improve our City Centre’s public realm, safety and experience.  As someone born and raised in Dublin, and as Minister with overall responsibility for Local Government, I want to see this City thrive and to make it an even more attractive place in which to live, work, visit and invest. This report will be a catalyst for regeneration, development and growth and I want to thank the taskforce for all their hard work.”

David McRedmond, Independent Chair of Dublin City Centre Taskforce and CEO, An Post, stated:

“It’s great to be here today to launch this Report. When the Taoiseach asked me to Chair this Taskforce, I was honoured and excited to be able to contribute to the rejuvenation of our fantastic city. As you will see in our Report, the Taskforce has identified ten ‘Big Moves’ that we recommend should be addressed to get our city back to its best so locals and visitors alike can enjoy what our wonderful city has to offer.”