A group of Dublin retailers are to pay for their customers' parking to encourage city centre trade.
The 'Dublin Can Be Heaven' group, which involves businesses in the Grafton St area, is to start the scheme from next week.
Spokesperson Kim Condon of Lafford Jewellers said they will be giving out vouchers for an hour of free parking, following negotiations with multi-storey car parks in the city centre.
It follows a continued drop in footfall numbers – which is down to 60% compared to last year – as tourists stay away and many people continue to work from home.
The numbers vary, with parts of the northside back to normal, while Baggot St in the south city is at just 20% of normal footfall.
Dublin City Council has provided tables and chair space with extended footpaths outside city centre restaurants and cafes to encourage activity.
It also trialled the pedestrianisation of a number of streets in the Grafton St area over four weekends.
An online survey carried out by the council found that over 90% of 1,456 respondents felt that this significantly improved their experience of those streets.
However, retailers in the Dublin Can Be Heaven group said many of their members found that shoppers with cars avoided the city during this time.
According to a survey that 45 retailers responded to, eight thought pedestrianisation improved their takings, 13 said it lessened their takings, and 26 said it made no difference.
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