Government Publishes First-Year Progress Report on Dublin City Taskforce Delivery

The Government noted the progress made in the first year of the implementation plan for delivery of the Dublin City Taskforce Report, and published a progress report from the Oversight Board charged with steering that work. Highlights include developments on notable landmark projects and acquisitions, establishment of the institutional arrangements

to support delivery and drive momentum and significant improvements in the public realm, as well as safety and cleanliness in the capital. However, the report acknowledges that investments made in safety and cleanliness have to achieve visible impact from the public perspective and the work needs to continue.

In 2024, the Taoiseach formed The Dublin City Taskforce to address public safety concerns and a decline in the overall experience of our Capital City. The Taskforce proposed 10 Big Moves to rejuvenate Dublin.

A Roadmap for Delivery of the Dublin City Taskforce Report was developed by an Interdepartmental Group. Published in June 2025, the Roadmap organised the 10 Big Moves from the Taskforce Report into three phases of delivery, across five Strands.

Today’s report, Building Momentum - Reporting Progress on the Roadmap for Delivery, details progress in Phase One. Phase One focuses on developing the detail and building the momentum required to deliver on the Taskforce’s vision.

The report says the groundwork for the structures for delivery has been completed, with the establishment of the Oversight Board and appointments and recruitment to the Programme Management Unit, the precursor to the Special Purpose Vehicle.

Important progress includes achieving government agreement on the process to redevelop the GPO complex and the acquisition of an O’Connell St site spanning 200 metres for the purposes of supporting Metrolink, and for the State; improving the safety and cleanliness of Dublin City’s streets; investment in the public realm and community engagement.

The Interim Project Management Unit, and, when established, the SPV, will initially focus on developing a 10-year Integrated Area Strategy for the city centre. Work has been done, in conjunction with stakeholders, to form the strategy that will inform the development of a Rejuvenation Plan for Dublin City.

Policing and Crime: Safety has improved over the first 12 months of a High Visibility Policing Presence operation, rolled out by An Garda Síochána for the core area in March 2025. Overall, the findings suggest that the initiative is having a positive effect on reducing visible crime in the target area, although some crime types have seen increases in the period. The headline finding is that total high-visibility crime within the target boundary fell by 4%, while nationally (excluding Dublin), high-visibility crime increased marginally (by 2%). Next steps include ensuring that public experience and sense of safety in the city is matched with these headline statistics.

Waste: Dublin City Council’s Waste Management Strategy is delivering and Dublin’s IBAL (Irish Business Against Litter) score for the City Centre improved last month (June 2026). The removal of the derogation from the Waste Management Act that permitted people to present their waste for collection in plastic bags has taken away thousands of plastic bags from some 200 city centre streets, every night. Additional staff, new litter control vehicles, expanded cleaning zones, enhanced street washing, issuing of fines, the engagement of businesses, and communication campaigns are helping to clean up the city.

Public Realm and Greening: Public Realm Improvements have been made on Talbot Street, Cathedral Street, Cathal Brugha Street, North Earl Street, O’Connell Street, Dame Lane. Love the Lanes is upgrading Coles Lane and Talbot Lane, Dame Court, Mabbott Lane, Andrew’s Lane.

Welcoming the report, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said:

“The Government is committed to transforming Dublin city centre, and progress has been made from one year’s focused work on Dublin’s rejuvenation. The report notes improvements in safety and cleanliness and work on key landmark projects is progressing, namely the GPO, and the recent acquisition of the O’Connell St site by the State. However, I hear the concerns that people have, indeed I share them - more needs to be done. We need to see the investment the Government is making translate into what people are experiencing as they walk around the city. We’re not there yet, but we are invested in the future, in the project, and in highlighting the excellent initiatives that have been implemented by Dublin City Council.”

Tánaiste Simon Harris said:

“We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to drive the renewal of Dublin city centre and the Taskforce is the vehicle. There has been welcome progress in implementing the initial phases of the roadmap for delivery, including key appointments and the establishment of key structures. There have also been some improvements in priority areas such as the safety and cleanliness of streets, investment in the public realm and progress on landmark projects.

“We are paying respect to our history, celebrating our culture and ensuring the streets are safe. There is much yet to be achieved and it is time now to redouble our efforts. The Government’s intention is to roll out a transformational programme in Dublin that can be replicated in other areas of need. I look forward to all departments and agencies continuing to work collectively with commitment on implementing the critical next steps in the roadmap.”

Building Momentum - Reporting Progress on the Roadmap for Delivery is available to read at https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-the-taoiseach/publications/dublin-city-taskforce/