Dublin Corporation has divided the city into five districts and appointed area managers to deliver services to people locally, starting at the end of this month. This significant decentralisation is also expected to yield considerable environmental and economic benefits to communities and to more efficient use of energy.
The city manager, Mr John Fitzgerald, said yesterday the new arrangements were part of a commitment by the corporation to implement a sustainability programme known as Local Agenda 21.
Claiming to be the first local authority to put into practice the agenda set by the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, the Lord Mayor, Cllr Michael Mulcahy, announced details of its initiative at the new Axis arts centre in Ballymun.
All of the measures being taken by the corporation are outlined in a report Local Agenda 21 - Dublin's Choice: A better future. This is based on the United Nations criteria for environmental protection, economic efficiency and social justice.
"A lot of people's eyes glaze over when you mention Local Agenda 21," Mr Fitzgerald said, "but one of its core principles is consultation with local communities to ensure that their views are taken on board in the planning of all major projects."
He described the decentralisation of Dublin Corporation's administration as "a very significant departure from the way we thought about things in the past when we thought we had all the information, knew what was best and often didn't".
He said the corporation's integrated area plans for Ballymun, the north-east inner city, Inchicore/Kilmainham, the Liberties and the HARP (Historic Area Rejuvenation Project) area extending from O'Connell Street to Collins Barracks had all been "very successful in involving local communities".
