Greens to propose Dublin Bay plan

Seawater swimming baths would be reopened in Dublin Bay, cars would be banned from beaches and a new location would be sought for Dublin Port under proposals from the Green Party.

The party's Dublin Bay Bill, which it hopes to put before the Oireachtas after the general election, also proposes a master plan to govern all future development in the bay, including building heights and land uses.

A "Dublin Bay Authority" would be created to bring together all the major groups which hold an interest in the bay, including three local authorities - Dublin City Council, Dún Laoghaire/Rathdown County Council and Fingal County Council.

The authority would also include Dublin Port, Dublin Docklands Authority, Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company and representatives from relevant Government departments and non-governmental organisations.

Green Party environment spokesman Ciarán Cuffe said the Bill was needed to bring together disparate groups and interests and ensure the bay was properly protected and developed.

"Dublin Bay is a fantastic resource that has come under increasing development pressure in recent years. It is vital for us to ensure future development is properly planned, and water-related sports and leisure facilities are developed and provided for."

The bay had been allowed to degenerate because of a lack of responsibility and cohesive vision, he said. Valuable resources such as the seawater baths at Clontarf, Blackrock and Dún Laoghaire were either left derelict or their future was decided by property developers.

"Although Dublin Bay is getting cleaner, no one authority is in charge of what's happening . . . We need vision, and that's why we are proposing to create an authority empowered to conceive a master plan for the conservation as well as the sustainable development of this valuable resource."

The authority would be tasked with developing the south docks and Poolbeg peninsula as high-amenity residential areas as the first phase of Dublin Port's removal from the city centre, and creating a marine park between Sandycove and Dún Laoghaire.