An iconic part of Dublin city centre is to undergo some changes as a result.
Dublin City Council has announced that outdoor dining will be facilitated on Merrion Row to coincide with the Government’s plans for an outdoor summer.
It comes following a successful trial last week, with outdoor dining on the popular Dublin City Centre street set initially for the summer.
A review, however, will take place in autumn to explore the long-term viability of continuing the scheme.
Over the coming weeks, a number of changes will be made to the area, including:
- The footpaths on Merrion Row being widened on both sides with one lane of traffic remaining to facilitate traffic from Kildare Street.
- Hume Street and Ely Place having the direction of flow reversed so traffic from St Stephen’s Green East will use these streets.
- A contra flow cycle lane being provided on Ely Place and Hume Street. Cyclists will still be able to access Merrion Row from St Stephen’s Green East.
- Eight car parking spaces being removed on the east side of Ely Place. 90% of spaces on Hume Street and Ely Place will remain and there will be no changes to any disabled spaces.
Dublin City Council has said that traffic changes will be implemented from Sunday, 30 May.
Earlier on Wednesday, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar gave more detail on what customers can expect when outdoor dining and drinking returns from 7 June.
He confirmed the €9 substantial meal requirement and the time limit on patrons are to be scrapped.
Giving “a rough idea” of Fáilte Ireland’s yet to be published guidelines, he explained: “It’s going to be seated only, a metre or a metre and a half between tables. No more than six at a table. They can come from any number of households.
“There will be no rule of 15. If you have the space, you have the space. There won’t be a requirement to buy a substantial meal. That will be gone.
“We don’t anticipate that there’ll be a limit on the amount of time that you can stay. It’ll be a lot more practical than what existed before but that’s not finalised yet.”
Image via Instant Street View
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