Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald TD has said that “Dublin’s future will be determined by the decisions made today.”

Ms McDonald made the comments following the publication of the Dublin City Taskforce report regarding the revitalisation of the capital city.

She said that the Taskforce’s report “lays bare that Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil allowed the city centre of Dublin to become run down and unsafe, and that bold, ambitious actions are needed to turn things around, and to secure the bright future that our capital deserves.”

The Sinn Féin Leader said:

“Dublin is the greatest city in the world with incredible people and communities. It’s a city steeped in history, heritage and culture. A city that has achieved amazing things and its greatest days are yet to come. I’m very proud to be a Dubliner, proud of the energy, creativity and inspiration that is a feature of everyday life in this city.

“The potential of our capital is huge and its communities to be a modern city for the people. To take Ireland’s economic engine to the next level, delivering more high quality jobs. To build a city where life is once again affordable, where workers and families can live a good, secure life full of opportunity.

“Dublin’s future will be determined by the decisions made today and there is work to do to turn the page.

“The reality is for a decade in government, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail have presided over a deterioration of our capital city. The government’s neglect of Dublin City, particularly the city centre core, is sharply exposed by the fact that people don’t feel safe coming into the city centre, by the scourge of dereliction and businesses struggling to cope with the impact of open anti-social behaviour.

“They have also implemented policies that have made life in Dublin City unaffordable for so many – a housing crisis that has delivered sky-high house prices and soaring rip-off rents, an escalating cost of living, and a failure to protect inner city communities from criminal gangs who prey on families trying to get by.

“To understand this government’s lack of vision for the revitalisation of Dublin City, you only have to look at its continued support for the Hammerson plan, a plan that will see the destruction of the historic Moore Street 1916 rising battle ground. Instead of using history to drive economic and social regeneration, they are choosing to pave over it.

“There is a better way. Dublin is one Ireland’s most important assets. So, it’s time for a new government that will face up to challenges, end the neglect, invest strategically in the greatness of Dublin City, and work with purpose to harness the incredible potential, talent, and energy of our capital and its people.

“We can renew the promise of Dublin as the best place to raise a family and build a good future. That means driving ambitious plans to make housing and childcare affordable, investing in working class communities, in youth and community development, improving public transport and supports to businesses, it means prioritising regeneration and making sure our communities, workers and visitors to Dublin City are safe.

“Sinn Féin has those plans and we have the vision and the determination to build a better future for Dublin.”