A year in review - Frank Curran, Chief Executive

Progress continues on our Active Travel routes to build a better network to connect our local towns, improve air quality and create better spaces for us all to enjoy. There are now 20,000 users per week using the Coastal Mobility Route, a segregated 2-way cycleway from Newtown Avenue in Blackrock to Sandycove and the Forty Foot bathing area. Work continues on the Stillorgan Village Movement Plan.

dlr supported the Sandyford Innovation Summit in September which focused on decarbonisation and its impact on businesses and the general public. This included the last mile hub/mobility island concept which is a pivotal part of Sandyford Business District’s Project Green Plan.

Dún Laoghaire received the Great Town 2022 award from the Academy of Urbanism. The Great Places Urbanism Awards are the Academy’s primary platform for recognising and celebrating outstanding examples of good urbanism across the UK, Ireland and Europe.  The town was also named as the one of the cleanest in the Country by the IBAL survey which is a wonderful credit to our outdoor cleansing staff work who hard to keep all our local towns and parks looking great. Work has started on the refurbishment and upgrade of Myrtle Square and the Old Carnegie Library in Dún Laoghaire will come back into use as IADT take up residence in the town.

On the Tourism front, Cruise Liners have returned to Dún Laoghaire with over 70 arriving during the year. The future of the Joyce Museum has been secured with the signing of a new collaboration between the Council and the Joyce Tower and Museum and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown is now a key part of the Dublin Coastal Trail developed by Fáilte Ireland in co-operation with the four Local Authorities.

In November, the Annual Budget 2023 for €236.5 million was adopted by our elected members. Here at dlr, we are committed to providing the best possible service delivery to ensure that our county continues to be attractive, inclusive and accessible for all through 2023.

I joined An Cathaoirleach, Councillor Mary Hanafin in December to officially open the Dún Laoghaire Baths. This was a significant day for our local community, and I hope locals and visitors will enjoy this public amenity for many years, and through many generations to come.

Please join in with some of the wonderful events on this Christmas, including movies and festive walks in our parks. I hope that you and your family will be out enjoying the atmosphere and I wish you all a very Happy Christmas & a peaceful new year.

Frank Curran, Chief Executive