DUBLIN CITY Council plans to to boost tourism and promote urban renewal by attracting luxury cruise liners to the capital.
The long-term plan announced yesterday proposes to allow cruise ships to dock closer to the O2 arena at an existing cargo terminal and to build a dedicated terminal building for liners.
Suggestions also include better pedestrian links to the Luas station at the O2 and access to a proposed extension of the Dublin Bikes scheme near Dublin Port.
The plan is in the earliest stage of the development process.
Jim Keogan, executive manager of the council’s planning department, said the plan had not been fully costed and a committee had been established to try to secure funding.
The cost of the project would not necessarily be high, and would be spread across many years of gradual development, he said.
“There will be cost to the city council and there will be cost to the Dublin Port Company, obviously,” he said. “Because of the urban regeneration aspects . . . we would hope to secure some structural funding from Europe.”
The urban renewal portion of the plan identifies several problems with the city quays and river area, citing “clutter to street furniture”, the parking of Dublin Bus vehicles, which “sever the visual link between the quay and the river”, and the number of vacant properties.
The report also criticises the level of antisocial behaviour in the city centre, including the quays.
Dublin Lord Mayor Gerry Breen said cruise-ship tourism contributed about €50 million to Dublin’s economy each year.
“Cruise-ship tourism is the fastest-growing sector in global tourism,” he said. “[The plan] aims to make Dublin city an even more attractive destination.”
Global cruise tourism has grown an average of 7.2 per cent a year over the past two decades, while the number of ships visiting Dublin has risen from 27 cruise liners in 1994 to 83 in 2008.
Direct spending from passengers and crew who visit Irish ports is estimated at €20.3 million a year, according to the plan. Up to €30 million is generated indirectly from employment in logistics and transport companies, and in the sale of fuel and other ship supplies.
The project is part of a larger European initiative involving 10 European cities including Trieste and Helsinki.