We can free up College Green for Dubliners but Dublin City Council must do better – Duffy

A permanent pedestrian plaza at College Green would be a game-changer for improving city living for Dubliners, a Fine Gael candidate has said.

Deirdre Duffy, a General Election candidate in Dublin Central, was speaking as she attended the first of three traffic-free Summer Sunday events on College Green.

“Today’s event was not perfect but it’s a start. I think with public consultation we can achieve a lot and we can see there is a real will there now to do more,” she said.

“Dublin City Council (DCC) responded to the concerns of people about the use of some of the barriers in place at the beginning of the event but it is clear that new thinking will be needed for the next two events.”

The Summer Sunday events are planned for College Green as part of a trial for a permanent pedestrianised plaza for Dublin city.

“The point of trials is to tweak what doesn’t work and I trust DCC will take on board the feedback from people today about what worked well and what needs to be fixed for the upcoming Summer Sundays,” she said.

“We have seen a glimpse today of what a traffic free College Green could look like, and it would be a game-changer for the city as a whole. The plaza could become a hub of activity for Dubliners, a place to meet and enjoy our city.

“Removing traffic from the area will also make our air cleaner and make Dublin a more liveable city.”

Ms Duffy said that we also need to look at freeing up more areas of the city for pedestrians and cyclists.

“We need to ensure ambitious plans such as these are matched with investments into sustainable transport and cycling infrastructure,” she said.

“The Dublin Bikes scheme needs to be extended into new areas and we need a better cycle lane infrastructure in the city centre to ensure cyclists are safe and navigating the city by bike is easier.

“I would also like to see an increase in the availability of secure bike parking so people can have peace of mind.

“As we work towards meeting our climate targets there is also a chance to re-imagine our towns and cities to make sure they are liveable and vibrant – this initiative is a step in the right direction,” Ms Duffy concluded.