Dublin City Council considers charging buskers yearly fee

Buskers in Dublin City Centre could be required to hold a licence under new plans due to be announced today.

Dublin City Council has proposed new by-laws that will call for an annual fee of €30 to be introduced, with additional charges for using amplifiers.

The measures will have to be debated and voted on by councillors.

The city's Arts Officer Ray Yates says, if approved, the by-laws would boost the quality of Dublin's street musicians.

Mr Yates said: "Buskers themselves have complained to us about somebody being too aggressive and coming in on their spot.

"I also think that putting a small fee on it for a year would hopefully attract those who are serious.

"A lot of buskers say to us that people who just come out for one day are probably very poor and never return and there are a lot of those that interfere with them."