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The Dublin City Council executive director said the local authority will seek government compensation for lost revenue and additional emergency expenses.
Owen Keegan said the council’s finances are “under considerable pressure” as business fees represent a third of its revenue.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Today with Sarah McInerney, Mr. Keegan said that the exemption from business fees and a return-to-work grant of up to € 10,000 paid through the fee scheme is welcome and will assist the council.
However, he said there has been additional spending in recent months on the homeless, as well as the fire service, which includes the city’s ambulance service.
Keegan said Dublin City Council will seek compensation from the central government for these additional costs and loss of revenue in other areas.
He said all capital projects are on hold, but he is confident that “the city will recover” and tourism projects will be reviewed, including the planned whitewater rafting facility for the Liffey river.
Keegan said a fundamental mobility review in central Dublin could allow for a “permanent and attractive legacy” of Covid-19.
He said that the wider trails and bike lanes, as well as pedestrian roads during parts of the day, are among the plans being considered to increase mobility and allow for social distancing as the relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions begins. .
Keegan said Dublin City Council will preserve vehicular access to the city and all car parks, but may restrict routes and access at particular times, adding that doing so “is not unreasonable” as it promotes more sustainable modes of transportation.
He said closing College Green to traffic “could very well be part of that” and that Dame Street is heavily pedestrianized, “but as it recovers,” more people are expected on the trails that are inadequate.
Keegan said this could include a ban after 11 am on motor vehicles on some routes.
He said restricting capacity on public transportation would pose challenges and this could lead to “an immediate solution” to driving the city, but said this “is not a sustainable or viable model.”
Traffic “has not stopped or been banned” in the city, Keegan said, but with the gradual recovery there will be challenges and a program of more fundamental route measures will be considered where it is not possible to remove space on the road without impacting road users. highway.
He said there is enormous potential for growth in the number of bicycles in the short term, but he is confident that the overall demand for access to the city at peak times “will drop considerably” as people continue to work from home.
Keegan said there is strong support for emergency measures introduced in response to public demand to increase social distancing on public trails by dismantling cargo bays and placing protected bike lanes.
He said it’s surprising that some retailers have criticized the measures, but said that there are some “who resent any improvement in pedestrian and bicycle facilities,” since most customers come in sustainable ways.
The council’s CEO said there has been no “widespread consultation” with companies due to the need to “go in and do these jobs” in response to the emergency situation.
He said the National Transportation Authority will publish a document next week for a general consultation with councilors and other interest groups.
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