Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)

It has now been 239 days since the recommendations of the Dublin city task force were published and 145 days since the programme for Government, which included a commitment to these recommendations, was agreed. The recommendations are aimed at rejuvenating Dublin city centre, focusing on the public realm, safety and overall experience. Such is the lack of tangible progress in initiatives such as revitalising O'Connell Street, increasing residential density and improving public safety that the task force's ten big moves are beginning to look like ten wasted opportunities or, more shamefully, ten election promises that have been quickly forgotten. Without dedicated funding and a clear roadmap for delivery, the task force's recommendations will remain another shelved document rather than a catalyst for real change.

The workers and students of Parnell Square and the residents and business owners of Frederick Street North want to know when the Government will announce ring-fenced budgets for the task force recommendations, when the inner city communities will begin to feel the revitalisation the task force aims to achieve and when there will be a decisive shift from recommendations to robust action.

Across the State we need to see community safety partnerships up and running with the right model, membership and resourcing. Time is of the essence.

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