FF to focus on Dublin’s image
The scheme would help improve the image of key districts in the city to make them more attractive for business and for tourists, the party’s director of elections, Environment Minister Martin Cullen said yesterday.
The proposal calls on businesses in defined areas to make voluntary contributions to pay for extra local services, facilities and amenities. These contributions would pay for services over and above those supplied by the local authority.
The Business Improvement Districts (BID) scheme would be created for a finite period and the party envisages they will initially focus on clean and safe streets, information centres for visitors and special community projects like street furniture, seasonal planting and the provision of maps and tourist information for visitors.
BID was one of the central proposals of a 30-point charter for the city, which incorporated existing local authority and government policy as well as introducing new policy ideas.
Among the more ambitious proposals are plans to double the number of quality bus corridors (QBCs), a plan to transfer Dublin’s homeless population from hostels to appropriate housing accommodation, an increase in Garda resources and manpower, as well as support for the completion of a new national conference centre for Dublin by the end of 2007.
Mr Cullen and Minister for Transport Seamus Brennan, who launched the manifesto, both focused on the party’s record in Government as it applied to Dublin.
Comparing today’s Dublin to that of 20 years ago, Mr Cullen said that FF policies had transformed the city.
“Our record shows a solid commitment to improving the quality of life for Dubliners, a solid record of delivering for Dublin.”
Mr Brennan said increased traffic congestion was a symptom of success. There are almost two cars per household now. That is economic growth.”
