Temple Bar Square Area Improvement Scheme FAQ's

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  • To provide a high quality public space to allow for more public and cultural activities
  • To remove the steps and extend Temple Bar Square as a single surface across the adjoining streets of Temple Bar, Crown Alley and Fownes Street Lower to the adjoining buildings
  • To make Temple Bar Square and surrounding streets more accessible for users of all abilities
  • To remove the existing trees that are nearing the end of their life; and to replace them with new trees
  • To provide new street furniture and public lighting.
  • A paved art installation is being provided on Temple Bar Square in acknowledgement of the Temple Bar area’s status as the city’s cultural quarter.

This scheme is being progressed as part of the Public Realm Strategy and the City Centre Masterplan, which was developed to meet the objectives of the overarching Dublin City Council Public Realm Strategy ‘Your City Your Space’ document.

  • Dublin City Council, through its’ Public Works Contractor Circet Networks (Ireland) Ltd.

  • Temple Bar is home to some 2000 residents and attracts up to 22 million pedestrians annually, or 60,000 each day.
  • The project covers approximately 2,400m² and takes in Crown Alley, Temple Bar Square, Temple Bar Street and parts of Fownes Street Lower and Cope Street.
  • The approximate size of the existing raised section of Temple Bar Square is 485m². By removing the steps and kerbing in this area, the Square will be extended to nearly 1000m², doubling the original footprint.

  • The existing historic materials (i.e. granite kerbing and cobbled setts) will be retained on Crown Alley, Temple Bar Street, Cope Street and parts of Fownes Street Lower.

Temple Bar Square will be reconstructed in modern materials.

  • The existing trees on Temple Bar Square are to be replaced as part of the scheme
  • A shortlist of tree species was prepared and local Councillors were invited to take part in the tree selection process along with the design team and Landscape Architect
  • The selected trees are one large Betula Costata (Korean Birch) in the northwest corner of the Square and three Acer Campestre Elegant (Field Maple) along the western side of the Square

  • The inclusion of an art offering as part of the development has been proposed due to the project area’s location within the City’s Cultural Quarter
  • Local artist studios and practices were advised of the proposal and asked to recommend candidates for consideration
  • A selection panel including two local Councillors, the Public Art Officer, Director of the Crawford Gallery in Cork and a member of the design team was convened to assess the candidates
  • The panel overwhelmingly supported one of the candidates, who was offered a direct commission in compliance with procurement rules in relation to public art
  • The brief was for the artist to develop a two dimensional piece that will be integrated into the hard landscaping for the scheme
  • The area surrounding the stand-alone tree at the north east corner of the Square has been selected as the location for the piece. This will create a really interesting set piece in conjunction with the larger tree and public seating
  • The piece will be revealed as work progresses on the Square.

  • The creation of a more usable space for people of all abilities is a central feature of this project
  • An Accessibility Report was prepared by a consultant architect specialising in the field of accessibility, in consultation with the National Council for the Blind in Ireland and the Irish Wheelchair Association.
  • The vast majority of the recommendations from the Accessibility Report have been implemented by the Design Team
  • At the entrances to the Square, blister paving gives warning that users are entering an area with a level surface
  • An accessible route/zone of comfort has been provided across the north and eastern sides of the project area to better facilitate those with mobility and visual impairments
  • A tactile guidance path has been provided along the northern and eastern sections of the Square to facilitate way-finding
  • Additional bench seating of varying heights and both with and without arm rests has been provided to cater for users of all abilities
  • A level difference between the cobbled carriageway and granite footways is to be retained on Temple Bar Street and Crown Alley, providing a readable carriageway edge for those with visual impairments.
  • The northern footpath on Temple Bar Street has been widened to a more appropriate width
  • Footpaths on Crown Alley are more generous and have been retained similar to their existing widths
  • An additional dished crossing point has been provided on Essex Street East and all pedestrian crossing points within the site are to be reconstructed to modern standards.

  • The Project went through a statutory Part 8 planning process described in the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) and the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 (as amended). The project was approved in 2017 and has a planning reference number of 3434/17.

  • Dublin City Council is funding this project through Development Levies.

  • Circet Networks (Ireland) Ltd

  • Dublin City Council Road Design and Construction Division is the designer of the project

  • It is estimated that construction will commence in April 2023

  • The project area is a pedestrianised zone, with delivery vehicle access permitted between 0600 and 1100Hrs, 7 days a week.
  • Access to residences and local businesses will be maintained at all times and alternative delivery arrangements will be provided when road closures apply.
  • Temporary traffic management systems will be required to facilitate the works and will involve closure of some of the roads within the project area to vehicular traffic as the works progress.
  • Details of proposed road closures will be provided in advance of their commencement