A planning application seeking permission to place steel railings around Dublin’s Ambassador Theatre to deter anti-social behaviour highlights the need for urgent Dáil statements on the decline and neglect of the city centre, according to Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon.
Deputy Gannon, who is a TD for Dublin Central, said:
“It is a sad state of affairs when the operators of this historic landmark feel the need to surround the venue with a permanent ring of steel to keep patrons safe and protect the building from damage caused by fires, vandalism, blood, urine, vomit and human excrement.
“We are talking about an iconic building that dates back to 1764 and overlooks O’Connell Street, our capital’s main thoroughfare. I am completely opposed to plans to fence off this important cultural space, which has been allowed to fall into a state of neglect over the years.
“Yet again, I find myself asking for Dáil time to allow for urgent statements on Dublin city centre. We need a multi-agency taskforce, led by the Taoiseach, to discuss how we can make the city safer.
“This means tackling anti-social behaviour, dealing with dereliction and bringing vacant buildings back into use.
“We need to protect our built heritage, such as the Ambassador Theatre, and ensure that the ongoing decline of our once-proud city is stopped in its tracks.”
January 30, 2024