A €2m refurbishment project is set to commence on Talbot Street, in the north inner city area of Dublin. The aim of Dublin City Council is to convert the antiquated street into an appealing, vibrant and secure cityscape due to issues of ongoing antisocial conduct and major attacks in the vicinity.
The €2m extra budget provision reached a consensus last Friday by senior officials of Dublin City Council. The council anticipates executing a series of beneficial actions in the subsequent months; these include refurbishment of pavements and roads, enhanced public lighting and the addition of green space in pivotal city set locations according to an information handout distributed to councillors.
Inauguration of the refurbishment exercises is set for the next Monday and is projected to continue for 20 weeks. The works’ initial phase will focus on the renovation of pavements and roads according to specifics in the handout. Moreover, Talbot Street’s first stage of upliftment will comprise the construction of new footpaths, increased lighting, and intensified greenery along the thoroughfare.
Entrepreneurs on the street have voiced concerns regarding inadequate law enforcement in the location. In an incident last year, Stephen Termini, a 57-year-old American tourist from Buffalo, New York, was severely wounded after an attack on Talbot Street and had to undergo hospitalisation for multiple weeks. Helen McEntee, the Justice Minister, and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris publicly surveyed the site after the assault in an effort to alleviate public fears about the safety of the street and inner city.
Christy Burke, a preceding lord mayor of Dublin and outgoing independent councillor for the north inner city, has regularly raised concerns about persistent antisocial actions occurring along Talbot Street and O’Connell Street. He asserted the necessity of the recent allocation of funds and advocated for the positioning of appointed city wardens exclusively between Talbot, Henry and O’Connell streets to deter criminal activities.
During the renovation workings, there will be traffic organisation measures in place and consistent pedestrian and local automobile access to commercial and residential properties. The council mentioned possible disruptions during this duration, expressing the hope for local business owners and property possessors to back and collaborate with it during these crucial endeavours. The state and local government have not been successful in providing functional or cosy urban spaces thus far.
Stephen Termini is advising Helen McEntee on ramping up police patrols in Dublin’s city centre. A blueprint for a €10m policing scheme aiming to increase safety in the capital has been unveiled, following recent incidents of violence.
The council expects local business-owners to contribute to the long-term maintenance of their buildings’ exteriors, once the public spaces around them have been upgraded. For any questions regarding the works, businesses can reach out through a dedicated phone line that will be established. In the meantime, any enquiries should be directed to the council via phone at 01-222-2248 or the e-mail at central@dublinicty.ie.