Victor Boyhan: Protect Dublin Council Powers in Taskforce Rollout

Thank you, Comhairleach. At first I want to thank you, Comhairleach, for selecting what I think is an exceptionally important commencement matter, which is to request was the need for the Taoiseach to make a statement on progress on the implementation of the Dublin City Centre Taskforce, in particular the role of the Dublin City Council and its elected members will have over its functions, policies and spending. I suppose just to set out the reason why this was submitted to the Taoiseach's office, this is after all a taskforce that was established by the previous Taoiseach, indeed the now Tánaiste, Simon Harris. He initially established the taskforce when he was Taoiseach. It had its work, its deliberations and of course the driving of all that was kept very much central to the Taoiseach's office, which I think in some ways sends a very clear message of the importance and the significance of this. Dublin City of course is our capital city and sometimes people forget that. I think that's important and there's a lot of commentary about Dublin City, not always fair or accurate, but I want to at the very outset firstly commend the Dublin City Chief Executive, the head of Dublin City Council, Richard Shakespeare and of course the 63 democratically elected councillors in Dublin City Council that at the very heart of their work is our capital Dublin City. So I suppose really in essence I think it's very important when we talk about a taskforce, we need to understand how the work and the implementation of that taskforce is devolved. I'm always conscious that our councillors and particularly in Dublin City but all over the country, they are democratically elected, they have a democratic mandate and any watering down or any attempt to water down or perceived watering down of their powers and their functions is something we must always guard against. So look, I wish the taskforce well. I think it's important that there's good collaboration in relation to the taskforce and that that works. I understand that the Dublin City, the interim advisory board met in June. There is now, it's going to proceed with a special purpose vehicle to lead the Taoiseach's taskforce and that's important too. I understand that Mr Robert Watt has now assumed the office of head of Dublin City Council's newly formed project management unit and CEO-designate of the council's proposed special purposes vehicle, which when constituted will oversee and implement the Taoiseach's taskforce report. So I think it's important that we're ambitious. I think it's important that this project has, and I know it has, the full support of central government. So it's central government assisting local government to prioritise the work and the vision and the future for our capital city, which is Dublin. So I want to wish it well. I suppose in essence I think it's important that we fully understand the purpose of the special purpose vehicle when constituted. It's important and I know that on the interim advisory board there are a number of elected members. I think in total the interim advisory board is about 16. So I want to wish them well. But I suppose in essence what's really important here is that we understand the functions and importantly the policies and the oversight of the work of the taskforce and the spending and the budgetary constraints, because I think that's an important thing. But I think out of this it's important that we clearly understand that there is no demonition, there is no watering down of the power and the functions of the chief executive of Dublin City Council or its elected members. I finish by saying I wish this project well, as I know everyone in this house does, and it is important now that the taskforce gets on with its work. And I thank you, Minister, for coming to the house to share with us the response from the Taoiseach's office. Thank you. Thank you. And I'd like to thank you, Senator Boykin, for raising this very, very important matter. And as you know, in May 2024 the government appointed the Dublin City Taskforce, chaired by David Mack Redmond, to take a kind of holistic view of the measures required to rejuvenate Dublin City Centre north and south. And the aim is to make Dublin City Centre a more thriving, attractive and safe cityscape, and a desirable location to live, work, do business and visit. The Dublin City Taskforce report published in October 2024 made a series of recommendations known as the ten big moves to improve the city centre's public realm, safety and experience. And a roadmap for delivery of the taskforce was published by government for the following June 2025, following the work of an inter-departmental group setting out a clear inter-implementation plan central to delivery will be, a special purpose vehicle to drive delivery and to support the specific capital developments relevant to the project. And Dublin City Council is progressing the establishment of this new legal entity. A ten year integrated area strategy for Dublin City Centre to optimise funding and investment and tackle vacancy and dereliction. An accelerated delivery of landmark capital projects in the city centre through additional funding in the URDF under the NDP review. And a redevelopment of the GPO complex as an ambitious and historic flagship project. An oversight board comprising all of the relevant departments and agencies and chaired by the Department of the Taoiseach, it meets regularly to oversee and provide strategic direction for delivery of the taskforce report through the roadmap for delivery. And ultimately responsibility for the establishment of the special purpose vehicle lies with Dublin City Council and they will need to adhere to the relevant legislative requirements. The government recently agreed the assignment of Mr Robert Watt as the CEO designated, as you said, of the body that will become the special purpose vehicle of the newly appointed interim advisory board to the SPV met on the 15th of June and 16 representatives have been appointed to the advisory board including Chairperson David Mack Redmond who previously acted as the independent chair and member of the Dublin City Taskforce. Dublin City Council has recruited staff for an interim program management unit which will drive delivery while the SPV is being set up. The department will work with all relevant parties through the oversight board to oversee delivery of the roadmap of the Dublin City Taskforce report and for this to be successful there needs to be a cross-departmental approach. The government agreed to process the redevelopment of Dublin's iconic general post office complex last month and its ownership will transfer to the Office of Public Works from the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport and the OPW will prepare design proposals which will be subject to government approval and before that happens a wide range of public consultation process will gather the views of all stakeholders and as part of the process a temporary meanwhile use of the proposal will be developed. Implementation of the Dublin City Taskforce report recommendations has been underpinned by NDP investment funding. The Towns and Cities Regeneration Investment Fund is supporting a number of projects within the core area and changes to the Living City initiatives announced as part of Budget 2026 will also support regeneration and efforts to tackle vacancy and dereliction and the roadmap creates an enabling environment designed to build confidence with business, landlords, landholders and investors to get involved in achieving a new vision for Dublin City Centre and to drive private sector investment and there will be a regular report to government on development for delivery in a further roadmap for the Dublin City Taskforce. I was at the launch of the design proposals for the GPO. I think it's very, very significant and I look forward to seeing this, not just the building, it's actually a huge complex being put into many, many uses and look forward to the process from all stakeholders, their views and they'll be taken into consideration. Thank you. Thank you very much Minister. First I want to thank the Taoiseach's office for preparing this speaking note. I think it's very comprehensive, it deals out with many of the issues. I want to thank you for delivering on behalf of the Taoiseach's office. I want to acknowledge and thank the 63 elected members of Dublin City Council and its Chief Executive Richard Shakespeare. This is an exciting time for the capital city of Ireland, Dublin City. I wish the project well. I think what's really interesting is the synergy and the importance of central government supporting local government, in this case for Dublin City, but there'll be other similar possibilities for other parts of the country. So I think it's a good model. I think it's clear now that where the roadmap is. I wish Robert Watt well in the task that he's been tasked with, in terms of the implementation of this task force. And I think what's more important, more than anything Minister, which you said here today, there is now a mechanism clearly stated here today where there'll be a regular reporting back to the Taoiseach's office in relation to progress. So I wish all stakeholders and the Department of Housing Planning and Local Government and Heritage, as it is now, all the very best with this really, really exciting project. It's important that we're ambitious for our cities and our towns. And I believe this is the beginning of something great for Dublin City. Thank you. I want to thank you, Senator Boyan, for your measured and informative approach and your observations and your support and desire to work together on the rejuvenation of Dublin City Council, of Dublin City. This is where it all matters. The approach of Dublin City Task Force and roadmap for delivery, I think it provides a good example of how state agencies and key stakeholders can work together to try to plot a course for a major city's rejuvenation. And we look forward to seeing progress on the establishment of a special purpose vehicle by Dublin City Council in the coming months. And I can assure the House that there will be further intensive discussions on advancing the work on the roadmap for the Dublin City Task Force report. Thank you.