Dorset Street and Royal Canal Project

The aim of the Dorset Street and Canal Area Plan is to create an attractive locality within which people can live and work. It also aims to encourage tourism, tourist related activities and general socio-economic development within the designated area.

After a period of consultation with the local community and business, the plan was unveiled by An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern in May 2002.

For more about this plan, contact the Sean MacDermott St Area Office at the address below.

Areas within the Plan

The plan concentrates on the Dorset Street corridor (from Drumcondra to Capel Street) and on the nearby Royal Canal. It also provides for improvements to the following:

• Mountjoy Square
• Summerhill
• Ballybough
• Hardwick Street
• Dominick Street

Objectives of the Plan

The objectives of this plan are:

• To improve the quality of paving, lighting, street furniture and plants in the area.
• To fill-in empty building spaces with new developments.
• To improve the general visual quality of streetscape.
• To provide new and improved playgrounds for children.
• To maintain and restore the channel of the Royal Canal.
• To improve personal security by way of a CCTV system.

Achievements to Date

• Number 15 Henrietta Street has been refurbished. It now houses Na Píobairí Uillean Interpretive and Heritage Centre.
• A new children’s playground has been created in Mountjoy Square Park.
• The road on Dorset Street has been completely resurfaced.
• A tree-lined central median has been installed on Dorset Street.
• Tow-paths along the Royal Canal has been refurbished, from Summerhill Parade to Jones Road and from Cross Guns Bridge to Binns Bridge.
• New lighting, a CCTV system and a statue in honour of Brendan Behan have been erected on the Royal Canal.
• An improvements programme has been completed at Sheridan Court. This included the installation of security railings, hard and soft landscaping, new lighting and new paving.
• Dublin City Council has opened a new Area Office on Dorset Street to cater for local residents.

This plan has been part-financed by the ‘Urban and Village Renewal Programme’ of the European Union.