Dublin taskforce report ‘pointless’ without investment, Gary Gannon says

The report of the Dublin city taskforce is “pointless” without capital investment, the Social Democrats said.

The Taoiseach brought a memo to Cabinet on Tuesday to approve the publication of a report from the the Dublin City Centre Taskforce and establish an interdepartmental implementation group.

The report, which was presented to the Taoiseach last month, contains 10 major initiatives to revive the city centre.

It makes significant recommendations on the revitalisation of O’Connell Street with a particular focus on redeveloping the GPO as a major public building.

Proposals were made to the taskforce for its use including a world-class museum, a leading government department, or the relocation of the national broadcaster.

Relocating RTE to the site could free up its Donnybrook headquarters up for housing developments.

A decision on its future use could be made by the end of Q1 next year.

Social Democrats TD for Dublin Central Garry Gannon said suggesting that the site could be used as a new location for RTE was “ludicrous”.

Discussing the work of the taskforce more generally, he said: “From what I can gather, it is filled with fanciful notions that contain no budget at all – because they didn’t feature in last week’s Budget.”

Mr Gannon said a taskforce was not required to come to the conclusion that the inner city needed “a bit of love and capital investment”.

He added: “It needs State intervention, it needs a budget.

“It doesn’t need anything more radical than a static policing force that can be there to service the people, make some of the buildings more liveable, invest in the flat complexes and just give people a sense of place within the city – and stop waffling in relation to taskforce reports and fanciful notions.”

He suggested the report was timed to “sound good” in advance of an election.

Asked what was wrong with the suggestion that RTE could move into the GPO, Mr Gannon cast doubt on the Government will to follow through on such a plan: “There’s absolutely nothing wrong with it – I think it would be great if it comes to fruition.

“What’s wrong with it is it needs long-term planning and budgetary support and drivers from the State – I don’t believe that’s going to happen.”

He added: “If that is something [the Taoiseach] is going to do, I’d like him to say: Here’s the Budget, here’s the timeline, here’s the transition, here’s what will happen on the Donnybrook site.

“And then I will absolutely come out here and do somersaults in favour of the plan.

“But until that point, its just pointless.”

Also speaking to reporters on Monday, Mr Harris said: “We have this landmark, iconic, historic building that is completely underutilised – and there’s lots of exciting proposals – indeed, three within the report as to what you could do with it.

“But I want people, when they come to Dublin city centre, to have many reasons to visit O’Connell Street.

“I want families to want to visit O’Connell Street. I think the GPO can be an anchor building in terms of bringing people onto what could be one of our best streets in our capital city.”

The taskforce report is expected to outline how a “step change” is required in developing the inner city area with a recommendation that regeneration should be managed as a special programme.

Other areas covered in the taskforce’s report include housing, policing, waste and culture.

It is expected the Government will establish the interdepartmental group with a timeline to report back to Government before the end of the year with recommendations. The group will be overseen by the Department of the Taoiseach.

The group will also be responsible for assessing the multi-annual cost and policy implications of the recommendations at a local and national level.

The taskforce was led by An Post chief executive David McRedmond.

The body was tasked with making recommendations on improving the city centre’s public realm, safety and experience.

It included 12 members, including gardai and trade union representatives as well as community and cultural representatives.

It examined areas from Parnell Square in north Dublin to Stephen’s Green in the south of the city.

The report will be published next week.