The guest speakers were Laurent Ney & Chris Poulissen, the discussion was chaired by Lynn Scarf, and the DCC client was Michael Phillips. A full list of participants is below.

The group explored the following issue:

Increasing levels of urbanisation require greater integration and coordination of the longterm sustainable planning, design and delivery of strategic infrastructure to future-proof our cities.

Dublin City Council’s responsibility as principal overseer for this function has however continually diminished over time through political expediency, local government reform, privatisation and deregulation, and the setting up of new alternative agencies often with conflicting and competing agendas. Strategic infrastructure planning in Dublin is now undertaken by a multitude of public and private organisations with often disparate stand alone briefs and may be incompatible with one another in terms of vision, purpose, programming, timescale and whom they seek to serve, particularly those providing utility and transport infrastructure.

How can Dublin City Council reclaim its authority as the agency best positioned to provide and oversee the planning and design of future strategic infrastructure for the city and citizens?

Context

Since the mid 1990’s, the Dublin Region now comprises the administrative areas of 4 local authorities of which Dublin City Council administers the city of Dublin (population 527,000). Local authorities are responsible for functions such as housing and community, roads, planning and economic development, culture, recreation and amenity services. Dublin City Council provides over 500 services to the city, however local authorities in Ireland generally provide less services than their counterparts in many other European countries, e.g. Irish local authorities do not provide education, policing, transportation and health services, and continue to outsource or lose services to other agencies such as domestic waste collection and water services.

Investment in local authorities has decreased dramatically since the economic downturn with staffing levels (-18%) and budgets falling significantly. A proposed plebiscite on the introduction of a directly elected mayor for the city was recently refused by Councillors in Fingal County Council, a county council within the Dublin Region. The Dublin City Development Plan is renewed every 6 years, however the inclusion or otherwise of some elements of strategic infrastructure may be omitted, as its planning and provision may not be within the City Council’s remit.

How can Dublin City Council spearhead the long-term sustainable planning and development of strategic infrastructure, to future-proof the city and reduce its carbon emissions, using the Dublin Docklands Strategic Development Zone  as a model?

Objective

Devise a 2015 pilot project to test how DCC can spearhead the long-term sustainable planning and development of strategic infrastructure, to future-proof the city and reduce its carbon emissions, using the Dublin Docklands Strategic Development Zone  as a model.

Please see the group’s key slide plenary session presentation below.