'Urban beach' planned for Dun Laoghaire

An urban beach in Dun Laoghaire in Dublin, similar to those in cities like Berlin and Paris, would be worth €1m a year to the local economy, it is claimed.

The estimate comes from the Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company, which is planning to build a floating outdoor pool on the East Pier by the summer of 2015.

It is hoped the project, which includes a café, seating area and toilet facilities, would attract 140,000 visitors every year.

Really there are two issues: one is to provide an amenity, a civic amenity for the local people and people in the surrounding area," said Local Councillor Patricia Stewart

"I also think it will attract people form further afield, and that's a good thing for Dun Laoghaire."

"Secondly, there's the consideration that the ferries are not running as much as they were before, and we really need to make the harbour viable."