Building Trust, Sustainability, and Innovation in Dublin's Future
DEMOCRACY, TRUST AND CITIZEN FOCUS
Supporting and strengthening local democracy through good governance and transparency, enhanced citizen engagement, and promoting the leadership role of the Elected Council are core to the work of Dublin City Council. Delivering essential services consistently well and our ability to address complex policy issues such as climate change, inequality and homelessness, are key drivers of the trust that the public places in the City Council.
The increasingly complex information landscape, the diversity of opinion and discourse that is enabled by digital communications has altered public expectations. To strengthen and maintain public trust, accountability and transparency in decision-making, services designed with the user at the centre, and more open engagement are expected.
CLIMATE CHANGE AND CLIMATE ACTION
Leadership in local climate action is a vital role for Dublin City Council. It requires an ability to balance the needs and expectations of communities, the demands and constraints of national and EU policies, and the urgency and uncertainty of the climate crisis.
Integrating climate and sustainable development considerations into all aspects of our work is supported by initiatives already in place such as the Local Authority Climate Action Charter, the Dublin City Council Climate Action Plan, and the Dublin Metropolitan Climate Action Regional Office, led by the City Council. Further enhancing our capacity to meet evolving responsibilities in this area, and to design and deliver our services in ways that support climate action and promote the behaviour change necessary amongst the public, will be critical to meeting this challenge in the longer term.
SUSTAINABLE CITY GROWTH
The Dublin City Development Plan 2022–2028 sets out the long-term vision for the city and promotes compact growth. It reflects the national and local housing targets to address the housing challenge within a plan-led sustainable framework and encourages residential development through proactive land management policies and planning frameworks. Dublin City Council is committed, as a priority, to delivering high quality homes under ‘Housing for All’ through a range of delivery mechanisms including Affordable Housing, Cost Rental and new Social Housing units.
The Plan enhances the status of Dublin in the National Planning Framework and the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy as Ireland’s leading global city of scale and Dublin’s success is key to the sustainable economic growth of the country.
The post pandemic impact upon the city centre has been recognised and to ensure sustainable growth for the capital city region there is a renewed focus on vibrancy, greening and investment in our city core area. The importance of collaborating with key stakeholders, state agencies, neighbouring authorities and international partners is critical to securing further sustainable growth of Dublin City.
TECHNOLOGY, INNOVATION AND CHANGING WAYS OF WORKING
Harnessing digitalisation and rapid advances in technology will drive a step-change in how we interact internally and with the public and our stakeholders. The opportunities that technology provides to improve the quality of our services and deliver them in ways expected by the public will also increasingly facilitate the consideration of more flexible approaches to how we work.
Technology and innovation also offer opportunities to address urban challenges and promote economic development and sustainability. Digital public services and technology deployed by the City Council in the City must be trusted and of high quality, delivered in an equitable, inclusive, and sustainable manner. The City Council’s Digital Transformation Strategy will guide our ambitious digitalisation and transformation programme in this area.
There has also been a shift towards new working patterns in the City, including blended and flexible working, and there is a need to adapt to these changes so that we maintain economic vibrancy and support sustainable urban development.