Dublin City Council to accommodate street furniture during Level 3 restrictions to support local businesses

Dublin City Council are to allow businesses to introduce street furniture during Level 3 restrictions - as long as they follow a set of specific conditions.

And the new steps are to be in place from midnight tonight and throughout the time when Dublin is "locked down" from the rest of Ireland.

The council is allowing applications for the furniture permit to be submitted retrospectively, with possible changes made after inspection.

The measures are being implemented immediately according to the council, and the move is being made to support businesses so they do not have to shut their doors over the next three weeks.

The conditions include:

• The business must have public liability insurance in the amount of €6.4m in place for the use of street furniture in the public realm, specifically indemnifying Dublin City Council.
• The business must take full responsibility for the health and safety of its patrons and of members of the public and have particular regard to residential amenity and to the rights of the mobility impaired and disabled.
• Gas heaters are not permitted.
• A minimum circulation space of 2 metres must be maintained clear of obstruction on the public footpath.
• The outside area must not extend beyond the frontage of the premises or impinge on another business premises without that business’s consent. The area must also be clearly barriered and delineated.
• In the case of a premises taking a car parking space and/or loading bay only one space/bay may be used and the consent of surrounding businesses, who use the loading bay should be sought. Parking spaces/loading bays cannot be used on high traffic volume roads or where speeds regularly exceed 30kmph without the prior approval of the City Council. Street furniture must not impinge on the public carriageway in any other way. Disabled parking spaces cannot be used.
• The preference is for businesses to work together to make these interventions. The City Council will provide support and expertise if requested.

Application forms will need to be completed and submitted to Dublin City Council's Street Furniture Licensing Section at www.dublincity.ie/main-menu-services-business/apply-street-furniture-licence