Opinion

College Green plan will enhance Dublin

Dublin remains one of Europe's most attractive capitals and the proposed new College Green plaza, which will be capable of staging public events for up to 15,000 people, should further enhance its appeal.

The planned introduction of a pedestrianised zone running from Dame Street across the front of Trinity College, which includes a cycle path and a separate route for buses, taxis and Luas trams, will be widely regarded as long overdue.

Dublin's existing traffic problems can be expected to at least temporarily increase when work on the project, which is due to take a year to complete, is scheduled to start next January.

However, taking private cars away from the central zone is a fully justified move in the longer term which is in the best interests of everyone who passes through the heart of the city.