Mr. John O'Hara:

I thank the Chairman for giving me the opportunity to speak to the committee. Planning in Dublin city is informed by the Dublin city development plan for the period 2016 to 2022 which is the statutory framework which guides physical development and land use in a sustainable manner. The plan contains a core strategy which is to provide for a vibrant mixed use environment in which people can live, work and participate in the cultural life of the city, while minimising the use of carbon based transport. The plan also emphasises the need for density quality and safe, active streets. In implementing the plan we work closely with other agencies to enhance walking, cycling and public transport infrastructure to serve the growing city, including the National Transport Authority and Transport Infrastructure Ireland in the case of the Luas lines, for example.

The population of the city between the canals grew from a low of 91,000 in 1996 to 142,000 in 2016 and continues to grow. We are pushing on with the development of the North Lotts in the docklands and Poolbeg West in the east docklands. Between them, these areas will add an extra population of 12,000 in the next five years in that part of the city. The work continues in attracting population into the city, in addition to what Mr. Yeates said about employment in the city, to further a policy of ensuring people can walk and cycle, as a first preference, and use public transport, as a second preference, as close to each other as possible. Culture is part of that mix. Paragraph 16.32 of the development plan recognises the importance of Dublin as a thriving and multi-dimensional capital city and the need to facilitate the concept of the 24-hour city, particularly in the city centre and key district centres. "Key district centres" is planning jargon for urban villages such as Rathmines and Phibsboro. The plan also states Dublin City Council will encourage entertainment, culture and music uses which help to create an exciting city for residents and tourists alike and are capable of attracting people in key employment sectors, including the high-tech sector. There is a need, therefore, to strike an appropriate balance between the role of these entertainment uses in the economy of the city and the following aspects: maintaining high quality retail functions on the primary city centre streets and ensuring a balanced mix of uses. There are vacant units above these shops, as well as in retail areas of the city.

We have a living city initiative which offers tax incentives to bring people into the city to contribute to the vitality of its street life and make it a safer place and to protect the amenities of residents from an over-concentration of late night venues. However, we recognise that there are concentrations of such venues on George's Street, Camden Street and Harcourt Street as part of the city. Noise emanating from and at the boundaries of such establishments are issues that will need to be addressed in planning applications. There are measures to deal with issues such as noise insulation and reduction measures and, possibly, staggering the closing times of clubs. They all require to be considered within any planning application process. Currently, the development plan discourages superpubs to encourage smaller venues and pubs in the city. The concentration of superpubs will be restricted in certain areas of the city where there is a danger of over-concentration to the detriment of other uses.

The successful development of a night-time economy and cultural life requires a multi-faceted approach from the top down and the bottom up which will build on the character of Dublin. We do not necessarily want to replicate what is in place in other capital cities. As such, it cannot only be about relaxing drinking licensing hours, it must include other aspects such as appropriate night-time governance, a safe, active and tolerant public realm, a vibrant mix of residential and cultural uses, together with good public transport for all citizens, including night-time workers.

The city council will start a review of the city development plan in mid-2020. As part of the review, there will be an extensive consultation process which will include consultation on the night-time economy.