Sir, - Of all the stories that could be written about Temple Bar, Frank McDonald (April 21st) has chosen to focus on one of the unintended consequences of its success; the huge numbers of young tourists who come to party in the area. He suggests that the sometimes drunken and loutish behaviour of a small number of these tourists is the responsibility of Temple Bar Properties. This is unfair.
If anyone is primarily to blame it is, of course, the louts themselves. Beyond them some blame must lie with the publicans who, although they must be making good profits from selling drink to these visitors, take no responsibility for the urine, vomit and disturbance to the peace they leave behind them.
While it is my experience that the Gardai are extremely prompt, efficient and courteous when dealing with any offences reported to them or spotted by them during office hours, a more pronounced presence is necessary in the evenings to both discourage civil offences and to make arrests as appropriate. Temple Bar Properties do not have the right to arrest and fine offenders. If the police do not have adequate resources to deal with the problem, I suggest a special tax be levied on the publicans to pay for the policing and upkeep of the area. Perhaps the tax should include a contribution to the growth of cultural activities in the quarter.
Temple Bar is in a stage of transition, as the development phase reaches completion and full occupancy occurs, it is vital we acknowledge the problems and address them. Other cities long famed as cultural tourist destinations with a similar intensity of cultural centres, retail outlets, hostelries and residents, do not attract this attention. They have learned that it pays to have stricter policing and cleaning policies.
It is unfortunate that McDonald's article fails to give a balanced overview of activity in Temple Bar. He wrongly dismisses the wealth of cultural activity and sense of community in the area to support his argument. Let's acknowledge the strengths, rectify the problems which are not by any means insurmountable and then celebrate the success of this innovative urban renewal project. - Yours, etc.,
Director,
Arthouse,
Temple Bar,
Dublin