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      Good infrastructure is fundamental to successful cities and has a direct and measurable impact on the quality of life and economic vitality. Our Dublin 2040 research focusses on 4 infrastructure indicators covering housing, healthcare, public transport and technology and suggests a range of policy options for Dublin in these areas.

      From an infrastructure perspective, the evolution of the city has had several key developments. Large local authority housing estates and new suburbs combined with an increase in private car ownership, have all made their impact.

      Despite the development of the M50, LUAS, DART and the Port Tunnel, infrastructure development has struggled to keep up with the growth of the capital.

      Infrastructural development is very important for three in five respondents (60 percent) and only a third (34 percent) feel the city performs well in this area.  Addressing the housing challenge is the biggest infrastructure issue for 60 percent of respondents.

      Meanwhile almost 9 in 10 (87 percent) believe Dublin is doing poorly in this area, reflecting the persistent and ubiquitous nature of the issue.

      Infrastructure indicators

      What should be prioritised vs how well it is performing

      Affordable housing

      What matters


      Getting it right on housing is the single most important social and economic priority for Dublin – a point reinforced by our research. At its most basic level, affordable housing promotes social inclusion and equity and helps prevent demographic segregation.

      Additionally, it can help to prevent homelessness and reduces the burden both on emergency services and sheltered accommodation.

      As has been recognised by government, solving the challenge of affordable housing is fundamental to Dublin’s future. With affordable housing, employees, especially in essential sectors such as healthcare, education, hospitality, and public services – are more likely to afford to live near their jobs.

      This would ease pressure on the supply of labour in key sectors and improve economic productivity.

      In addition, from an economic perspective, the provision of affordable housing also positively impacts talent retention and innovation. Dublin’s status as a tech and innovation hub is dependent on many factors, including attracting and retaining skilled, talented and often highly mobile people.

      High housing costs discourage young professionals and startups and puts at risk the long-term competitiveness of the city.

      The housing challenge requires a change in the way we look at the issue, including being more strategic. There is clearly a need for significant levels of private capital to meet our housing needs – yet there has been a consistent decline in private sector capital investment.

      According to KPMG Partner Carmel Logan, “If we accept that private capital has a role in funding house building, then we need to think differently about housing. This means ensuring investors have more certainty with long term clarity not dissimilar to the ‘no surprises’ approach that has worked so effectively in helping secure inward investment.” 

      Bolands Mill Dublin
      If we accept that private capital has a role in funding house building, then we need to think differently about housing.

      Carmel Logan

      Partner, Head of Real Estate

      KPMG in Ireland

      Making it happen


      In broader terms, and echoing sentiment from Property Investment Ireland and others, we need a more streamlined planning process. We also need greater recognition and action on the interconnectedness of housing, infrastructure, and other elements like waste and water.

      Proposals to help delivery:

      • Treating housing and real estate investment partners similar to long term Foreign Direct Investment. Policy certainty is attractive to long term investment, as shorter term measures, such as stamp duty changes, can have significantly negative impacts on investor confidence.
      • Removing rent caps as one of the biggest impediments to investment in housing, preventing investors from seeing a return in line with the market.
      • If rent cap removal isn’t possible, then recalibrating rent caps should be linked to the underlying tenancy, not the property.
      • Greater acceptance of the need to build “up” to increase density in the city and meet desires of those who wish to live in the city.
      • Targeted measures to encourage conversion of unviable commercial properties for residential use.

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      Affordable healthcare

      What matters


      Getting it right on healthcare for Dublin means meeting a basic human requirement for good health, maximising access based on need and allocating finite resources where they are required most.

      Crucially, accessible, affordable healthcare promotes a healthier city and reduces the social and financial costs of ill health. Effective health systems can also be an important pull factor in attracting and retaining talent as cities, including Dublin, compete for mobile talent.

      Underpinning the importance of healthcare, when asked about Dublin’s infrastructure priorities, our respondents ranked affordable healthcare second after housing.

      This focus is perhaps unsurprising as escalating costs are straining budgets, a deficit of healthcare professionals is challenging service delivery, and an ageing and growing population is putting pressure on the system.

      Additionally, in the wake of COVID-19, pandemic preparedness, including in cities, is an urgent priority for governments and health agencies.

      KPMG’s Head of Government Cormac Deady notes that despite challenges, technology is providing huge opportunities in healthcare.

      “There is a real chance to rethink the future of healthcare, particularly in the areas of care delivery and diagnostics. Technological advancements have the potential to change how Dublin, and indeed Ireland, addresses this infrastructural challenge.” 

      Pharmacist using tablet
      There is a real chance to rethink the future of healthcare, particularly in the areas of care delivery and diagnostics.

      Cormac Deady

      Partner, Head of Infrastructure & Government, Head of Management Consulting

      KPMG in Ireland

      Making it happen


      The latest KPMG thinking on urban healthcare blends innovative care delivery models, a greater focus on digital health, community-based care and preventative measures, while leveraging data and technology to improve access, outcomes and efficiency.

      Healthcare will be delivered in the most appropriate care setting, including via remote and virtual means, with the use of hospitals prioritised for acute and emergency care. Key suggestions for Dublin include:

      • Improve healthcare services delivered in the community through the development of effective and modern primary care centres, thus reducing the burden on hospital and emergency care services. Aligned healthcare and broader social services further enhances the ability to deliver improved outcomes for the population as whole.
      • Investing in digital infrastructure to modernise healthcare. For example, telemedicine, telehealth and remote monitoring tools, supported by accessible data, should become more prevalent, improving access to care, especially in underserved areas, reducing congestion and costs. This also requires an upskilling and reskilling the healthcare workforce to adopt new technologies.
      • Promoting the use of wearables and electronic health records to enable continuous and proactive monitoring of the health status of the population, allowing for early detection of issues. This enables proactive interventions to take place in the most appropriate care setting, further helping to ease emergency department pressures in the Greater Dublin Area.

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      Comprehensive, safe public transport

      What matters


      Unlocking Dublin’s traffic challenge and continuing the shift to comprehensive safe public transport, is a significant social and economic prize. Given that

      Dublin is relatively late to major public transport initiatives, other comparable cities often have an advantage in terms of urban connectivity, efficiency, sustainability, liveability and overall appeal.

      Our research reveals that public transport was the number one or two infrastructure priority for over 40 percent of our respondents.

      Initiatives such as Metrolink, DART + and Bus Connects, all have the potential to be transformative - bringing Dublin to the standard enjoyed by similar cities whilst promoting an appropriate ratio of public transport to private car use.

      AI and other technologies, including next generation ticketing, and free or low-cost fare schemes have the potential to offer a more customer friendly experience.

      The initial success of schemes such as the Dublin City Centre Traffic Plan, designed to end the dominance of the private car on Dublin city’s streets by 2028, is encouraging.

      In the city centre in particular, this has shown to be a catalyst in improving journey times for public transport – thus enhancing its appeal.

      KPMG Corporate Finance Partner James Delahunt says that given projected population growth, planning our public transport needs should be supported by greater insight and data in a way that can be transformative. 

      “Dublin needs to invest in non-car infrastructure, address consumer barriers through policy and investment, and think differently about the future of transport to encourage more active travel while using technology to make public transport journeys more attractive. 

      Luas light trails Dublin
      Dublin needs to...think differently about the future of transport to encourage more active travel.

      James Delahunt

      Partner, Corporate Finance, Head of Energy & Natural Resources

      KPMG in Ireland

      Making it happen


      Getting it right on public transport means getting people into and around Dublin quickly, economically and sustainably and is fundamental to Dublin’s success over the next 15 years and beyond.

      Whilst our research indicated support for as of yet unplanned projects such as an orbital LUAS line circling the city, there is a clear need to deliver on projects already announced. 

       Suggestions for continued improvement include:

      • Enhanced political leadership and community engagement to expedite the completion of major public transport initiatives including Metro North, DART + and the extension of the LUAS to Finglas and Lucan.
      • Multiannual funding to support certainty in the planning and delivery of strategically vital public transport projects.
      • Continued encouragement of active mobility infrastructure to encourage the shift from private car use to cycling, and walking.
      • Prioritise Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) solutions, including Next Generation Ticketing, via a single customer interface to enable easy to understand journeys in a broad market of transport services.
      • Targeted free services to encourage public transport use over private vehicles, and achievement of environmental and social equity goals.
      • Priority to the expansion of the EV charging network.

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      Reliable, secure technology

      What matters


      Technology is transformative. It can help Dublin and its citizens lead better lives by connecting people and ideas and it underpins the evolution to a Smart City.

      Tech has already put Dublin on the map and can continue to help us realise our full potential as a world class innovation hub. Technology is crucial to resilience, but it also introduces risks. As cybercrime and shifting geopolitics escalate, the likelihood of damage and loss in critical areas such as payment systems and data theft increases.

      Perhaps unsurprisingly, our research is positive about Dublin’s tech performance from an infrastructure perspective with almost half (49 percent) saying Dublin does well in this area.

      Conversely, reliable secure technology is not seen as a significant priority. However, in our view there is no room for complacency.

      KPMG Head of Cyber Security Dani Michaux notes that Dublin has a real opportunity to build a reputation as a tech-led resilient city.

      “Dublin can truly become a more integrated, data-driven and enabling capital - helping city decision-makers, infrastructure leaders and companies accelerate their smart city agendas.”

      Making it happen


      As our recent Smart to Smarter Cities report highlights, integration unlocks insight and value, while data fosters smart decision-making. A focus on enablement reframes the conversation about what government delivers, creating space for greater collaboration and for new ideas to flourish. For example:

      • Establish a pathway for Dublin to become a Smart City that focusses on outcomes over deliverables where the technology being deployed is aligned with the outcomes sought. For example, develop a Dublin wide decarbonisation strategy based on real-time data, democratised to help people make informed decisions on how their transport choices impact the environment.
      • Encourage transport operators to consider how mobility data might be used to create better connectivity and drive greater value for citizens and users.
      • Build a city-wide cyber security/ digital resilience strategy that stress tests the failure of key public and private infrastructure in areas including health, grid, water, rail and tram signalling, traffic management, electronic payments and data theft.
      Antenna and satellites Georges Street Dublin
      Dublin can truly become a more integrated, data-driven and enabling capital.

      Dani Michaux

      Partner, EMA Cyber Leader

      KPMG in Ireland