Busking Bye-laws

A report from Dublin City Council’s Events department will be presented to the City Council committee for the Arts, Culture, Leisure & Youth Affairs later this month. Dublin City BID has been lobbying for these regulations for some time now and they contain sensible recommendations relating to issues like the control of noise and amplification from street performers.

It was agreed that regulation through bye-laws was necessary and that the previous voluntary Code of Practice, although well-intentioned, had not been successful. Last year alone Dublin City BID received over 750 complaints from member businesses about excessive noise and disruption caused by a small number of uncooperative street performers

The City Councillors will be voting to put these new bye-laws out to public consultation, one of the last parts of the process before they are adopted. We would encourage any businesses affected by loud or problematic busking to lobby their local councillors about the issue. Contact details for City Councillors are available here

Group Waste Scheme

In response to feedback from our members who have experienced difficulties with waste collection in the city centre Dublin City BID has been investigating the possibility of introducing a Group Waste Scheme for the BID area. BID has met with a number of parties who have expressed interest in partnering with Dublin City BID for the roll-out of just such a scheme. Similar schemes have worked with great success when operated by BID companies in the UK and we believe could provide an important part of the solution to waste management problems, making the city centre a more attractive place for customers, ensuring a quality and on-time collection regime and potentially offering a cost saving for BID members.

To progress this scheme further we need your feedback. Please take a couple of minutes to complete this enclosed survey. Your responses will be crucial to the successful rollout of the scheme.

O’Connell Street Gets Sporty

Dublin City Council issued a media release regarding a family event taking place on O’Connell Street next Sunday, 12th May. To facilitate this event there will be a temporary road closure in place on the south bound side of O’Connell Street (Clerys side) from the junction of Parnell Street to the junction of Abbey Street. The road closure will be in place from 2pm – 5pm. The event is estimated to attract 2,000 people into the city centre. See below details of the event, as mentioned in the release issued from DCC.

Media Release: O’Connell Street Gets Sporty

Wanna get sporty? Then don your tracksuit and runners and join Dublin’s Lord Mayor, Naoise Ó Muirí on O’Connell Street on Sunday 12^th May, 2-5pm for what promises to be an exciting sporting street event, packed with fun, games and sporting challenges for all the family.

Dublin City Council in association with Athletics Ireland are delighted to present a unique on-street sporting event in the heart of Dublin City. Lord Mayor, Naoise Ó Muirí has no intentions of hanging up his runners just yet. After a very successful 5-Alive Challenge this year, he is calling on sporting enthusiasts, the not so sporty, students, families and friends to come into the street and join in the fun and activities of the afternoon. The aim of the day is to get active whilst having fun. Children can measure their fitness and test their skills in a number of events over the course of the afternoon. Join in with Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress as they partake in the highlight event of the day; a ’1-mile’ fun run around O’Connell Street, starting at 4 p.m. No limit on age or fitness levels. There may even be a medal or two to be won!

Lord Mayor, Naoise Ó Murií commented on the event, “Transforming O’Connell Street into a sporting arena for Dubliners and visitors alike will add great atmosphere, energy and vibrancy to what’s usually a normal Sunday on the street. Can YOU afford to miss the opportunity to make history and run in the first ever O’Connell Street Mile in our Capital? We are expecting great interest in this event as well as the many other events on offer, so come along and join in the fun and the spirit of the day. Don’t forget your runners!!!”

Speaking on the event, John Foley, CEO of Athletics Ireland said: “We are delighted at Athletics Ireland to be invited by Dublin City Council to help organise what promises to be an exciting afternoon of athletics in O’Connell Street. There will be a nice mix of Little Athletics Fun Events for the children to take part in and the Mile event at the end of the afternoon will be suitable challenge for all the family”.

Laura Lynn will be the focused Charity on the day. Jane McKenna from Laura Lynn said “Laura Lynn is delighted to be the chosen Charity for this event, especially with the lovely involvement of children. Laura Lynn, Ireland’s first Children’s Hospice, is now bringing precious care and comfort to sick little ones and their families. A million thanks to all who support us and good luck to the Lord Mayor and all taking part in this wonderful event”.

98FM will be on site with their Big Red Thunder Bus cheering on the crowd.

To register for the run please visit: http://bit.ly/10UnuKG

For further information please contact:

Dublin City Council Media Relations Office T. (01) 222 2170, M. 087 740 0277

Luas Extending Its ‘Kids Go Free’ Initiative

Luas has extended its great Kids Go Free offer until the end of May! Every Saturday, Sunday and this May bank holiday Monday, any adult with a valid Luas ticket can take 2 kids for FREE on Luas. There was never a better excuse to get into town on Luas! See full details and simple T&Cs at www.luas.ie/kids-go-free-2013

Special Themed Markets

DCC is now inviting applications for special themed markets. By DCC Casual Trading Bye Laws 2012, these markets may be considered and determined by executive decision by Dublin City Council at the following locations: Read more >>

Bank Note Watch Campaign

The IBF along with its members and various stakeholders including An Garda Siochana , An Post , Cash-in- Transit (CIT) partners and the CBOI as observer are establishing / launching a Banknotewatch education, awareness and crime prevention initiative.

The reason for the establishment of this scheme is that over the years member banks and the CITs (CIT industry) have invested heavily in intelligent ink stain security cash boxes/cases for the secure transportation of cash by CIT service providers. In addition, there has been a recent upsurge in attacks on commercial deliveries and the awareness campaign is aimed at educating the general public/retailer community as to the circulation of stolen ink stained notes which are proceeds of crime.

The goal of this campaign is to highlight to the public and retailers that an ink stained banknote is possibly a stolen note and the proceeds of a commercial CIT robbery. We are attempting to stop the circulation of these notes and asking members of the public and retailers to refuse to accept these notes and to follow our guidelines in respect of what to do when such a notes comes into your possession.

We hope that the Retail community will support this campaign. In the event that you want to discuss this campaign, the IBF and the GTAG Office (01) 6661198 are available to discuss with you in advance of the launch date , scheduled for May 2013.

Bank Note Watch Campaign. See Poster

Dublin Bus performing on-street survey

Please note the following announcement from Una Mc Grath, Customer Experience Project, Dublin Bus:

Dublin Bus will be performing on-street surveys/ conversations with customers over the next few weeks to solicit feedback about their services. These will occur in the city centre on North Earl Street, Mary Street and South King Street on weeks beginning 13^th, 20^th and 27^th May.

Staff will be using a mock bus-stop prop and be engaging in conversations with interested users on the street. No flyers will be issued to customers. Dublin Bus have a decision notice from Dublin City Council Events dept with permission for this.

Dublin Bus would like to notify businesses in these areas.

Summer in Dublin

Similar to the Santa Roadshow at Christmas, we are planning to bring family friendly activities and entertainment on a tour around Dublin’s city centre each weekend from July – Aug to celebrate Summer in Dublin.

This type of event worked very well at Christmas when businesses got involved. We would invite businesses who are interested in working with us to contact kathryn.ryan@dublincitybid.ie

Dublin Fashion Festival

Dublin Fashion Festival  will take place again this year from Thursday 5th – Sunday 8th September. We are currently pulling together a programme structure and invite members’ participation.

If any members have ideas or input to discuss please contact kathryn.ryan@dublincitybid.ie. Please see outline of festival and how to get involved by clicking the link below.

DFF Members’ Brief

Dublin City BID Ambassadors Boarding Cruise Ships

Through a partnership with Failte Ireland and Dublin Port, Dublin City BID ambassadors are now boarding the docked cruise ships at Dublin port.

Our ambassadors are greeting visitors on over one hundred cruise ships this summer and will be the first point of contact for over 180,000 tourists and crew. This is an extension of the popular Dublin City BID visitor assistance programme and information kiosks. This is a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase Dublin commerce and point the visitors towards our city centre businesses.