Latest news with #DublinCityCouncil
BreakingNews.ie
2 hours ago
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Council denies rumours Coolock accommodation for older people will house asylum seekers
Dublin City Council has taken to social media to dispel claims around a new older persons' housing development in north Dublin. It follows rumours the homes in Coolock are to be used for asylum seekers. Advertisement Glin Court in Coolock is an older persons housing development built in the 1970s that became vacant after fire damage in 2018. It has since undergone a major redevelopment, creating 32 new one-bed homes. Dublin City Council is aware of false reports circulating around who will be housed in the new Older Person's housing development at Glin Court, Glin Grove, Coolock, Dublin 17. We wish to clarify that all future residents for this new development will only come from Dublin City… — Dublin City Council (@DubCityCouncil) July 15, 2025 In a post on social media yesterday, Dublin City Council said it was aware of false reports about who will live at Glin Court after rumours began circulating that the homes would be used to accommodate international protection applicants. However, the local authority says all future residents will only come from its Housing Allocations and Transfers list and is asking people to communicate that message within the community.
Irish Times
a day ago
- Business
- Irish Times
Redevelopment of Dublin's Victorian fruit and vegetable market begins
The €44 million redevelopment of Dublin 's Victorian fruit and vegetable market has started, a decade after planning permission was granted for the work. The project, which is expected to take just over two years, involves the conservation and restoration of the 127-year-old market building on Mary's Lane close to Capel Street, along with new buildings to the southside of the market facing the Luas line on Chancery Street. Once completed, the revamped market will house at least 80 stalls along with a 'restaurant and food demonstration space' as well as an outdoor 'farmers' market' under canopies at the Chancery Street Yard, Dublin City Council said. Archaeological investigations have been undertaken and some asbestos removal completed. The main contractors Purcell Construction have moved on site to begin internal works to the protected structure, councillors were told on Monday. READ MORE [ 'Coming back to life' - Inside Dublin's 127-year-old fruit and vegetable market as major revamp gets under way Opens in new window ] The work includes: roof upgrades, refurbishment of the cast iron posts and wrought iron structures; repair of original brickwork and tiles and 15 large-scale doors; demolition of some 20th-century additions; and building of new structures including two toilet blocks. The redevelopment of the market was first proposed in 2002. In 2007 a consortium was selected for what was then a €425 million project involving apartments and offices as well as a retail food market. Michelin-starred restaurateur Patrick Guilbaud was reported to be 'in talks' as an anchor tenant, but contracts were never signed before the financial crash hit. Dublin City Council agreed to borrow €30 million to ensure the redevelopment of the Victorian market goes ahead. Photograph: Chris Maddaloni/The Irish Times In 2011, the council announced more modest plans to redevelop the market as a retail and wholesale food facility. The following year it began repairs to the roof and in 2013 it drafted redevelopment plans to open the new market in mid-2015. The development again stalled when it emerged vacant possession of the hall was required for the work to take place. At that point, about a dozen wholesalers were still using the building. In March 2015 the council secured planning permission for a retail-only market, and following several more years of negotiation with the traders, secured vacant possession of the building in August 2019. The council immediately closed the market and said it would begin the tender process for the new retail market which it hoped to have operational by 2021. It has remained closed since, apart from its rental to a construction company for storage, occasional one-off events, and its use by film companies. Since its closure, the historic building has been subject to repeated vandalism with several of its old wooden doors badly damaged by fire. Councillors last March approved borrowing of up to €30 million as part of the overall €44 million estimated cost of the project, and ministerial approval was subsequently sought and granted for work to begin. The new facility will be a 'quintessentially Irish food market' operating seven days a week to 'support the city's north retail core and highlight the food offer to locals and visitors alike', the council said. Shoppers will be able to 'do their weekly food shop, or dine on-site at the restaurant or traders stalls'. Facilities will be provided for 'community growers and start-up food business' and more established local producers who will have a 'direct route to market with some producing on-site' the council said. 'The new market will act as a catalyst for regeneration and new uses in the area while providing for food education and associated events,' it said.
Irish Times
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Irish Times
EV owners have their say: `After five years of EV ownership, we will switch back to petrol or diesel'
We asked our readers to tell us about their experiences of EV charging in Ireland. In particular, how do they charge their electric vehicles in built-up areas where EV owners might only have on-street parking? The callout followed an Irish Times repor t on an EV owner in Dublin 6 who was ordered to remove an unauthorised 'charging arm' by Dublin City Council . In their responses readers cited the difficulties they face charging their electric or hybrid car if they do not have off-street parking. Others reported that public charging points are over-subscribed, and they often have to wait to access these charging points at anti-social hours to ensure they will be available. These are some of the responses: 'We have an EV in Rathmines. We cannot convert our front garden into a driveway as our terrace is a protected structure. We have a wide footpath that a charge arm won't work with, so we haven't installed one. I contacted the council regarding a Kerbo charge gulley but they rebutted my request and referred me to section 13 of the Roads Act 1993, which prohibits any activity that creates hazards or obstruction on a public road (footpaths are considered public roads). Though Dublin Local Authority launched an electric vehicle charging strategy in 2022, which recommended the development of charging hubs in the short term at various points across the city, there are very few public charging points deployed to date. I have contacted local councillors and TDs but to no avail or support. Councils all over the UK have deployed footpath solutions such as kerb adjustment, charge gulleys and high-speed chargers for houses that have electric cars but no off-street parking. As far as I can see Irish authorities have made no effort to lead the way here and develop solutions. Surely it's not beyond a council engineer to develop typical details, an accompanying risk assessment and deploy a solution in a similar format to footpath dishing for driveways. On our street there is a cast-iron rainwater gulley and a water meter in the footpath outside every house but for some reason we can't get a gulley for EV charging. We charge our car at SuperValu in Kimmage but often have to wait for ages as it is very congested with taxis that park there. I think it would make sense to have some level of differentiation between private and commercial users, eg dedicated taxi-charger stations. READ MORE John Whelan Co Dublin There is a complete lack of charging infrastructure within Ireland. I have owned an electric car for five years now and will be switching back to petrol or diesel. The entire EV scheme is doomed to failure in Ireland. There are insufficient charging ports for all small areas. In addition, all new housing has been built with 0.5 parking spots, which means that those who move there may not have the opportunity to park their car to charge it. The demand for cars will not reduce because the transport infrastructure is insufficient. Those cars will not be electric because the electric charging infrastructure is appalling. One particularly annoying circumstance is when you arrive at a charging destination where there is no fast charger, and have to wait for the person to finish and disconnect, which adds hours to a journey. Often the only available chargers are the slower 22kW ones, which means my car takes 6-8 hours to charge. Dublin resident (Name withheld but verified by The Irish Times) We installed a device at the back door of the house and we have a 'garage' entrance replacing a door. We did not seek planning for changing the door to a pull-down garage-type door. My lawyer (ie me) advised me that it was exempt. DCC has done very little on EV charging, and it continues to charge for on-street parking while charging. I have zero reliability on any public EV devices. We hire a car when travelling out of 40km radius. Greg Allen, Co Dublin I live in Dublin 8, with on-street parking and an EV. I charge my car using the public charging stations and they are so busy that we often have to charge the car at 11pm. If I'm lucky I might get a charging spot in work once a week if I get there before 7am. When you have on-street parking you are not eligible for a grant to install a home charger, which seems like a real policy gap. Some people near us have installed chargers and use a mat to run the cable over the pavement when charging, which I think is entirely reasonable but which some neighbours complain about. It's not easy to charge an EV in a city location. Ironically, EVs are really well suited to city driving. I cycle where I can, but a car is handy for groceries or for getting the kids to soccer practice on time after work. Aisling Kelly Co Dublin [ Germany might have solved Ireland's urban EV charging problem Opens in new window ] My wife and I each have plug-in hybrid cars but often find that the latest ESB high-power chargers are out of service. This week alone I found the chargers at Carnmore and Charlestown were out of service. When I call the ESB E-cars helpline I am made to wait ages to get through to a human, before being told that they can't help me. Even worse, sometimes the helpline number on the charger is out of date. Dermott Crombie Co Galway
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Busy Dublin road used by thousands of drivers set to close for one week with diversions in place
A BUSY road used by thousands of Irish drivers is set to be closed for one week - with diversions in place. Dublin City Council has alerted 1 Dublin's Oriel Street Upper road will close on Wednesday Credit: Google Maps Oriel Street Upper in Dublin 1 is set to temporarily close this week for carriageway improvement works. The closure is taking place daily from 8am to 6pm between Wednesday this week on July 16 and Wednesday, July 23. Motorists are being warned that it affects the stretch of Oriel Street Upper between Sheriff Street Lower and Seville Place. READ MORE IN MOTORS 'Date – Wednesday 16th July 2025 to Wednesday 23rd July 2025.' Pedestrian access will be maintained throughout the closure and local access will be facilitated where possible from each closure point. Traffic marshals will be stationed on-site to assist with diversions and ensure access where needed. For vehicles arriving from Sheriff Street Lower, diversions will send traffic toward Commons Street, North Wall Quay and Guild Street. Most read in Motors Those approaching from Guild Street will instead be redirected via North Wall Quay and Commons Street. Clear signage will be in place to guide motorists and drivers are advised to plan ahead and allow extra time for their journeys. Major warning for Irish drivers over little-known task as thousands set to renew licence Dublin City Council added: 'Pedestrian access will be facilitated at all times. 'Traffic marshals will manage closure points during works.' MOTOR BRAND RECALL Meanwhile, Irish car owners of a popular motor brand have been warned to Citroen C3 and DS 3 The Road Safety Authority shared the warning on The recall affects certain Citroen C3, C-Zero and DS 3 models as their Takata airbags could burst with excessive force if they deploy in a crash. 'DO NOT DRIVE' The RSA said: 'Important notice for owners of a Citroen C3 and DS 3. 'Citroen/DS Ireland have asked vehicle owners of certain Citroen C3 and DS 3 models to stop driving their vehicle until the airbags have been replaced by a dealership.' This deterioration could make the inflator explode more violently than intended, leading to pieces of metal striking the driver or passengers. The RSA said this fault can cause serious or even They said: 'Takata airbags may deteriorate over time, particularly in warm, humid climates. 'This could cause the airbag to burst with too much force in the event of an accident, which could lead to serious or even fatal injuries in the worst-case scenario.'
Irish Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Irish Times
Last dance: Tourists ‘can't get their heads around' Dublin nightclubs closing at 2.30am
Dublin's first 'night mayor' finds it 'embarrassing' to explain Ireland's highly-restrictive licensing laws to European counterparts. Ray O'Donoghue, who leads Dublin City Council's efforts to develop a vibrant night-time economy, said visitors to the capital are 'shocked' they cannot go to clubs or bars after 2.30am. 'They can't get their heads around it,' he said, noting this has an impact on tourism. 'Even the lads in the 24-hour Spar [are] talking about tourists coming into the shop asking: 'Where do we go now?'' READ MORE 'And what can you say? 'Back to your hotel or your Airbnb, because there's no regulated place for you to go.'' A recent report on the State's nightclub industry and dance culture said the sector is 'downsizing'. There are now only 83 regularly active nightclubs in the Republic of Ireland, compared to 522 in 2000, according to the report published by campaign group Give Us the Night. For more than two decades, Give Us the Night has advocated for improvements to night-time culture in Ireland, including licensing law reform. The group's fingerprints are on many of the initiatives progressed in recent years, including through the Night-Time Economy Taskforce established by the Department of Culture. There was the expansion of Culture Night events and activities later into the night, the participation of arts venues in nightlife activity, the appointment of night-time advisers or 'night mayors', and noise mitigation grant schemes. The industry is regulated by a 90-year-old piece of legislation, the 1935 Public Dance Halls Act. Nightclubs account for 0.6 per cent of the 14,085 active liquor licences across Ireland. Most nightclubs operate six to nine hours a week, paying on average more than €20,000 for special exemption orders annually. The highest concentration of Ireland's nightclubs – 23 – is in Dublin. Ireland has the strictest nightclub curfews in Europe, and Dublin has the earliest closing times of any European capital. The average European nightclub closing time is 6.30am. In Dublin, it is 2.30am. Before the last general election, licensing law reform pursued by former minister for justice Helen McEntee effectively stalled. Sunil Sharpe, who co-authored the report with Ciara Power, is a techno DJ known for elevated, intense sets, and a capacity to play for hours. 'The business model of a nightclub is particularly difficult,' Sharpe said. 'It's an industry more heavily regulated than anywhere in Europe. We still can't give young people the basics ... The generalisation made is that if you're out late at night that must mean you've been boozing all evening and you're going to keep doing that until it's bright. That is simply just not the case. Drinking culture has changed.' Index nightclub, run by event management company District 8 The data backs this up. Alcohol consumption has fallen by 34.3 per cent since 2001. Today, people in Ireland are drinking alcohol at average European levels, according to a report published last month by the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland. Dublin is not alone in experiencing a post-pandemic shift towards larger one-off dance music events, with some audiences driven by a desire for experiences and big moments (and the social media cachet of documenting them). SILO at the RDS in Dublin 4 hosts huge parties. In Belfast, AVA Festival pulls a substantial audience from Dublin. Martin Smyth and Fernando Martin, along with their team at event management company District 8, are a Dublin club culture success story. Their operations include Index, which in February moved to the Academy venue on Middle Abbey Street. District 8 also holds large one-off events and a festival in Kildare. 'I'm not a big memory lane guy, I look forward,' Smyth said. 'The event industry or market in Ireland – if that includes what we do – it feels like it's booming. But I do think a knock-on effect of that is it has become more difficult for mid-tier spaces ... If you're into dance music, people tend to go for bigger occasions.' Smyth is in favour of licensing law reform, saying all kinds of nightlife and music scenes could benefit. 'I think it could be infrequent, maybe once a month, or maybe for a few key nights a year. The conservative, scary public perception of late night opening hours, it shouldn't be viewed like that,' he said. O'Donoghue, the night-time economy adviser, does not have the typical profile of a leader within Dublin City Council, having emerged through the city's club scene as a DJ and club promoter. Under his reign there has been a rapid prototyping of ideas. After a brief trial of a welfare zone on College Green to assist partiers at night, the Nee-Naw, a Department of Justice-funded mobile support unit van, launched earlier this month in the Camden Street area. 'We just want to get things up and running. Just give it a go,' he said. O'Donoghue is also incorporating club culture into mainstream city festivals. 'We did late night events at Culture Night, St Patrick's Festival, St Brigid's Festival, Culture Date with Dublin 8 ... There is a bubbling underground scene. There may not be a lot of spaces, but they are there. But you do have to go out and find them. They're not falling into your lap,' he said. But in recent months, O'Donoghue has noticed a subtle, positive change in the atmosphere in the city centre. 'It does feel like there's a shift and a momentum,' he said. Survey data monitoring safety sentiment that asks, 'do you feel safe in Dublin city at night?' was at 24 per cent in December 2022, rising to 31 per cent last summer. The latest available statistic is 37 per cent, he said, adding: 'So even in the first six months of the year, it has improved.' At Tengu, a club at the back of Yamamori restaurant close to Dublin's Ha'penny Bridge, DJ EMA programmes and manages the space, runs the label Woozy, and cofounded the collective Skin&Blister. 'Dublin can feel like it's vibrant, evolving and inclusive one minute, but then stifling and restrictive the next. It is a really tough place to build a rich scene,' EMA said. EMA cited the cost of special exemption orders as contributing to 'wild' overheads, saying touring artists visiting Dublin find the costs, laws and opening times 'baffling'. [ The Irish Times view on helping Ireland's night time economy: Government needs to get on with it Opens in new window ] But EMA sees community at the core of Dublin nightlife, saying Dublin would feel 'super flat' without collectives such as Honeypot, Tender, Stretch and Dublin Modular, which 'focus on local talent and local community-building and have created incredibly safe and inclusive spaces'. [ 'Dreadful government, lack of nightlife, lack of cultural spaces': Dublin writer Thommas Kane Byrne on his home city Opens in new window ] Last weekend at Dublin Pride, there was an abundance of parties. One of the people behind some of the biggest LGBTQ+ events in the city is Lisa Connell, who runs the club brand Mother with Cormac Cashman. 'We had around 7,000 people at the Block Party [at Collins Barracks], and we did four parties on Saturday night with an average of 800 people per party. Honestly, we could have put more on,' Connell said. Connell pointed to the number of alternative Pride parties that took place as indicating a 'really strong' appetite for clubbing. 'Along with that, people are flat out running raves, it's so deadly to see ... There seems to be a renewed curiosity in things. People are really interested in experiences.' On the potential for expanded opening hours, Connell said: 'You'd hope that if you weren't corralling people into a limited time slot, it would encourage people to pace themselves. I know from a venue perspective, we feel the infrastructure around nightlife isn't great. If people stay out later, can they get home? In other cities that's set up very well.' Among those making things happen, there is an enthusiasm for Dublin's vibe to become more optimistic. 'We probably took one of the biggest batterings during the pandemic,' Smyth said, 'Nobody wants to talk about the pandemic, but there's something about the hangover of that lifting now.'
