Politics

New Dublin city centre taskforce to focus on public safety and transport among other issues

Group to focus on improving public realm, public safety and public transport north and south of Liffey

Group recommendations will inform a wider plan for improving life in the city. Photograph: Derick Hudson

Pat Leahy
Tue May 7 2024 - 06:00

The Cabinet is expected to approve the establishment of a new taskforce charged with rejuvenating Dublin city centre when it meets at Government Buildings on Tuesday afternoon.

The taskforce, which will be led by an independent chair and will include representatives from An Garda Síochána, Dublin City Council, the National Transport Authority and other agencies and stakeholders, was promised by Taoiseach Simon Harris when he became Fine Gael leader last month.

It will concentrate on the city centre north and south of the Liffey and will be asked to produce a series of recommendations for actions within 12 weeks, it is understood. Its recommendations, an official said, would inform the conclusion of a wider plan for improving life in the city.

The taskforce will consider how to “improve the public realm”, Ministers will be told, including better public safety and making it a more desirable place to live, work, visit and do business in. It will look at the use of cultural spaces, the public transport network and issues around antisocial behaviour and litter.

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Elsewhere, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly will update the Cabinet on the progress of new elective hospitals in Cork and Galway, and the two elective hospitals to be constructed in Dublin, in Blanchardstown and Crumlin. These aim to treat patients who are having planned procedures, relieving pressures on bed capacity and in emergency wards elsewhere.

With the construction of these hospitals not expected to be completed for several years, the HSE is developing “surgical hubs” in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford.

Mr Donnelly is to tell his fellow Ministers that the construction and fit-out of the surgical hubs in Mount Carmel and Swords in Dublin are “well under way and due to start treating patients in 2024″, it is expected.

The remaining hubs are well advanced through the statutory planning and tender processes on an expedited schedule and are due to start treating patients next year, Mr Donnelly is to tell the Cabinet meeting.

Meanwhile, Minister for Media Catherine Martin is expected to bring three reports on RTÉ to Cabinet. It is expected that Ms Martin will tell Ministers that RTÉ will accept the recommendations, which will entail greater oversight of the broadcaster by her department.

Among the recommendations are that the RTÉ board should cap all payouts to staff leaving in voluntary redundancy or early retirement schemes.

The RTÉ board will also be required to approve all such schemes and the remuneration committee should review the progress of such schemes, according to the recommendations. If senior executives leave under such schemes, the terms should be approved by remuneration committee of the board.

Pat Leahy

Pat Leahy

Pat Leahy is Political Editor of The Irish Times

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