Building Dublin city through substantial incentives, according to David McWilliams
In a thought-provoking discussion on RTE Radio One, economist and writer David McWilliams shared his views on the revitalisation of Dublin city centre and the potential consequences for Ireland due to a letter from US President Donald Trump. John Casey, with JJ Vernon on sound, moderated the discussion.
McWilliams emphasised the need for "big financial and tax incentives" to encourage builders to convert commercial or neglected spaces into residential housing. He argued that any successful redevelopment plan must include a tax scheme that incentivises construction and renovation, as existing financial or regulatory frameworks are insufficient to motivate developers to transform derelict or underused parts of the city.
The economist was critical of the current state of dereliction in Dublin city, stating that without substantial economic incentives, the city's housing and urban environment problems will persist. McWilliams highlighted the importance of creating economic conditions favourable to both builders and residents, arguing that facilitating residential development in the city centre can alleviate housing affordability and urban decay.
McWilliams also advocated for learning from past mistakes by adopting targeted economic measures to actively facilitate urban renewal. He implicitly pointed to the failures in prior policies that did not sufficiently encourage mixed-use redevelopment or failed to remove barriers for residential conversions. He suggested clear, direct financial incentives and tax mechanisms to correct these oversights and stimulate a vibrant urban renewal that benefits the local economy and social fabric.
Meanwhile, the discussion also touched upon the letter from US President Donald Trump, another event on the tariff front this week. Cliff Taylor of the Irish Times joined Ciarán Hancock to talk through the implications of Trump's letter for Ireland. The letter threatened higher taxes on European imports into America, and the discussion focused on the potential consequences for Ireland.
In a separate segment, McWilliams discussed his ideas on how to learn from the mistakes of the not-too-distant past with host Ciarán Hancock. He suggested tax breaks and other measures to revitalise Dublin city and increase city centre population.
While the discussion did not delve into other unrelated topics such as Sinn Féin blaming 'human error' for a SuperValu gaffe, a UK investor paying €34m for Arena Centre in south Dublin, or the number of civil servants required to run a small country like Ireland, the focus remained on the pressing issues of urban renewal and the impact of international politics on Ireland's economy.
In McWilliams' discussion, he proposed the implementation of financial incentives and tax mechanisms to stimulate mixed-use redevelopment, particularly among home-and-garden projects in derelict or underused urban spaces of Dublin city. As he emphasized, creating favorable conditions for both builders and residents through such incentives could alleviate housing affordability and urban decay, ultimately improving the city's lifestyle.
