St. Patrick’s Day marks time for action on Dublin Taskforce Report – Geoghegan

Almost 150 days since the publication of the Dublin City Taskforce’s Report, it is time to take meaningful action to implement its recommendations, according to a Fine Gael TD.

Speaking ahead of St Patrick’s Day, which will bring an estimated 500,000 visitors to the capital and generate over €113 million in revenue, Deputy James Geoghegan highlighted the urgency of implementing the report to enable Dublin’s potential to be a safer, cleaner, more prosperous city.

Deputy Geoghegan said: “Recognising the need for radical action in the capital city, Fine Gael Leader Simon Harris established this taskforce and gave it a focused brief and a tight deadline, which it met. While there was a General Election in the meantime, it is a firm commitment in the Programme for Government and I want to see some impetus injected into its implementation. It has been under consideration by an Interdepartmental Group under the Department of the Taoiseach for six months now and it is high time it reported and published its recommendations so we can move on to implementation. Dublin needs action now.”

Deputy Geoghegan pointed to key recommendations of the report that need to be implemented, including:

• The recruitment of 1,000 extra Gardaí for Dublin city.
• Better targeting and location of key services.
• An aggressive approach to converting vacant and derelict sites into high-density housing.
• A comprehensive plan to revitalise O’Connell Street and surrounding areas.

“With over 1,000 Gardaí being deployed for a single event this weekend, it is clear that security and public order require sustained resources, not just one-off interventions. Dubliners and visitors alike should feel safe and welcome in our capital every day of the year, not just for major events,” Deputy Geoghegan continued.

He also proposed an accommodation levy, a measure already in place across many European cities, as a funding mechanism for the Taskforce’s recommendations.

“St Patrick’s Day highlights exactly why Dublin should have the power to raise revenue through an accommodation levy. Hundreds of thousands of visitors will fill our hotels this weekend, yet Dublin City Council is not empowered to generate a cent from this influx. This is a missed opportunity to reinvest in the city’s safety, public realm, and long-term viability.”

Without an urgent action plan backed by sufficient funding, Deputy Geoghegan warned that Dublin would continue to underperform as a capital city.

“Dublin’s potential is immense, but it needs urgent attention. That is why An Tánaiste, Simon Harris established this taskforce. I strongly urge the Taoiseach and other stakeholders to move swiftly from discussion to delivery. The people of Dublin deserve a safer, cleaner, and more prosperous city.”

ENDS