A new Dublin "supremo" with the necessary clout to oversee a wide-ranging strategy plan for the capital was proposed yesterday by the Dublin Chamber of Commerce in its plan for 2000-2002.
The plan, "Making the Difference in Dublin", states that at present there is no cohesive structure for the management and leadership of Dublin.
"Our current system of electing a mayor on an annual basis has significant limitations in terms of continuity and in implementing long-term programmes that have full political backing," said Mr Hugh Governey, chamber president. The plan sets out three models for a new supremo. The first is for a directly elected lord mayor or minister for Dublin, with a cabinet along the lines of the US mayoral system. A revised structure with a manager having overall responsibility for the metropolitan area or an alliance of representatives of leading organisations is also proposed. In addition to management issues, the plan proposes that a further £1 billion (€1.27 billion) is required to tackle Dublin's ongoing traffic management problems on top of the provisions included in the national development plan.
The investment is required to fund infrastructure projects such as the airport rail link, central railway station, integrated docklands transport network and a circle underground line to accompany LUAS.
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