Date: 30 April 2020
Green Party spokesperson for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Steven Matthews TD has called on Local Authorities to consider allowing businesses including restaurants and cafés access to the public footpath in town centres free of charge this summer to help with social distancing.
Following trial runs in Dublin City Centre and elsewhere of making urban centres at least in part, car free, Deputy Matthews said, “First and foremost this is still a public health crisis and any new measures must be taken in light of medical advice.
“However, whenever businesses are able to begin to reopen, they will need as much support as possible to adapt to social distancing measures which will likely be a part of our lives till at least the end of the summer.
“We need to start examining possible solutions and one could be to make certain urban streets in towns and cities across the country car-free during business hours this summer. This will allow sufficient access for pedestrians and cyclists but also give business owners and patrons enough space to operate safely.
“This wouldn’t need to be every street or even every town, but these are the sort of solutions local authorities need to look at to keep businesses going. I hope this is something that each local authority can examine.
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