Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

Okay. That is very important, because one of the things about street furniture is that not only are there benefits for the local economy and businesses, but it actually improves the public realm full stop. It gets more people out on the street, and that helps to curb issues around antisocial behaviour, or people not feeling safe. All of those are positives, and the transformation around that is very welcome.

I visited Dún Laoghaire a couple of summers back, and I have obviously been there since, but the transformation in Dún Laoghaire as a result of what the local authority has done in the public realm with regard to planting and its own street furniture has hugely changed the main street and really lifted it. It is a really good example that should be followed by other local authorities. These exemptions are very welcome, but it does not need to be left to commercial premises to do this. Local authorities can take a lot of initiatives to improve streetscapes and the public realm.