Dublin Docklands Report

Dublin Docklands Timeline and History
• Custom house built - 1790s
• Urban Renewal Act established - 1986
• IFSC was established – 1987
• Custom House Docks Planning Scheme prepared – 1994
• Dublin Docklands Development Authority – 1997
• Preparation of 3 Master Dockland development plans – 1997-2008
• Introduction of the Strategic Development Zone Scheme – 2014
The Dublin Docklands Development Area comprises of 520 hectares or 1300 acres of land on the north and south
banks of the River Liffey.
A brief history of the Dublin Docklands
The traditional Dublin industries, such as poplin and silk were located in the neighbourhood of St. Patrick’s
Cathedral. When these industries declined after 1800, the population fell in older parts of the city. In the
Docklands by contrast the population increased steadily throughout the nineteenth century, and the vacant land
was gradually covered with houses and commercial properties.
Following the decline of textile industries in Dublin after 1800, population numbers fell in older parts of the city.
But due to the increase in the city’s port trade which operated in front of the Custom House when it opened in
the 1790s, the vacant land around the docklands gradually became covered with houses and commercial
properties.
After World War II the number of jobs in the Docklands fell with the growth of container traffic and the switch
from rail to road. Many of the older factories closed down.
Moving the Docklands into the modern age
Previous regeneration of the docklands began in the late ‘80s with the development of the International Financial
Services Centre (IFSC). The IFSC is now one of the world's leading financial services centres. It has become one of
the leading hedge fund service centres in Europe, and many of the world's most important financial institutions
have a presence here.
Total employment in the IFSC stands at over 35,000 with 10,000 people employed outside Dublin and pay about€1
billion in corporate taxes each year, with a further €1 billion going to the exchequer in payroll taxes.
More than 500 operations were approved to trade in under the IFSC programme. The centre is host to half of the
world's top 50 banks and to half of the top 20 insurance companies. A sophisticated support network, including
shared services centres, software development, and legal and accountancy companies, has also developed around
the IFSC.
Following the economic crash, the IFSC suffered extreme financial contraction but some of the major construction
projects continued on and today, new infrastructure, such as the Samuel Beckett Bridge and the LUAS Docklands
extension, has made the area more accessible. New venues, including the Bord Gais Energy Theatre, the
refurbished 3Arena and the Convention Centre Dublin have all become modern Dublin landmarks. With the mass
of commercial, residential, civil and leisure projects in the pipeline for the SDZ Docklands Planning Scheme, this
has become and will continue to be a vibrant working and living district in the city of Dublin.