Dublin City Council initiatives aimed at reversing a huge drop in city centre footfall due to the pandemic.
Dublin city centre is experiencing a dramatic drop in footfall due to the pandemic. On Henry Street, it is estimated that numbers are down 50% from pre-lockdown levels. In the Grafton Street area, this figure is much lower at 20%.
In a bid to reverse the trend, Dublin City Council (DCC) has introduced an initiative. Several streets in the city centre will be pedestrianised in a trial set to run for four weekends. No traffic will be allowed on the streets in and around Grafton Street, including South Anne Street, Drury Street and South William Street, from 11 am to 7 pm.
The idea is to make them more inviting so people will come back into the city centre.
Dairine Keogh, co-owner of Clement and Pekoe on South William Street, welcomes the move and is keen to see what impact it has.
The pedestrianisation trial also supports a parallel DCC initiative that sees the issuing of outdoor seating permits for cafés and restaurants in 30 locations throughout the city. DCC senior executive officer Kevin Meade outlines plans to extend this programme to accommodate more businesses.
For many traders, including Fabio Bonaccorsi, owner of Dolce Sicily restaurant on South Anne Street, paying the full amount of rent during the pandemic is a pressing issue. His business was closed for two months, and since reopening, footfall is down due to remote working.
It is a big problem for this city.
However, DCC and business are hopeful the new measures will kickstart an economic recovery in the city.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 25 July 2020. The reporter is Coleman O'Sullivan.
