The council has proven that it is unable to facilitate enough housing development across the city - we need new, big ideas.

The commercial property vacancy rate in Dublin is almost 15%. The majority of these buildings are purpose-built, grade-A office blocks. At the same time, there are hundreds of commercial businesses that operate from converted Georgian houses around Merrion Square, Fitzwilliam Square, and throughout the city.

The council should incentivise these commercial businesses to move into the grade-A office blocks through tax breaks or commercial rate reductions. They should then reconvert the houses back into homes, both rebuilding communities in our city centre and increasing environmental efficiency.

The city needs big thinking and innovation to get out of this crisis - we are past tinkering around the edges.

In short, the council needs to enforce its existing standards and increase the number of inspectors and inspections.

The introduction of virtual property inspections has been a significant advancement. There's also potential for further improvements, such as implementing an easy-to-use hub where tenants can report, log, and track breaches.

There's huge opportunity for increased efficiency, which would improve the quality and increase the number of inspections conducted.

Three key decisions taken by the council over the past decade have contributed to the decline in our city's appearance:

• The decrease in city bins from 5,000 in 2011 to just over 3,000 today.
• The privatisation of household waste collection.
• Commercial waste collection across the city.

To improve our city streets, the council needs to:

• Increase the number of bins and introduce communal bins throughout the city.
• Revert household waste collection services to council control.
• Expand the deployment of “BagBins” across the city. These structures securely hold commercial waste bags, preventing rubbish from being blown down the street while also eliminating an eyesore.

For the specific issue of dog fouling, there needs to be stronger enforcement, better resources, and new ideas. During a recent canvass, a voter suggested the idea of an app where community members could report instances of dog fouling in real time at a specific location. Over time, this would help identify hotspots where the council could install CCTV or increase inspections. Dog owners also must take more responsibility. Together, we can create a culture where not cleaning up after our pets is unacceptable.

Tax, enforcement, and technology.

The council needs to increase the tax rate for owners of derelict properties. At the same time, it should encourage redevelopment through tax incentives and increased grants. The council must use its compulsory purchase order mandate on properties that remain derelict for over a year, and quickly redevelop them. Lastly, we can use technology to enable our communities to easily report vacant and derelict homes citywide.

Our city needs an increase in the number of actual and visible Garda in our communities and city centre. Individuals engaging in anti-social behaviour should be held accountable and face suitable consequences.

We must also acknowledge that anti-social behaviour largely results from underinvestment in our communities. We need to improve housing, public spaces, and infrastructure. At the community level, funding for youth clubs, community centres, and after-school programs should be increased.

The solution lies in execution and delivery. Existing plans, such as the metro link and bus connections (which may not be innovative or ambitious enough), need implementation. There is too much red tape and it is significantly delaying progress. In the short term, simple solutions like enabling card or phone taps on the bus would boost accessibility and usage.

Dublin has been designed and developed over the past few decades primarily for cars. A fundamental shift in our perspective on mobility is needed, transitioning from cars towards public transport and active travel. Infrastructure beyond roads has been underfunded for decades. This is evident in our lack of public spaces, deteriorated sidewalks, and potholed bike lanes. The city deserves a vision and development plan that places people and communities at its core.

Small groups that promote hate, division, and fear have always existed. However, the advent of social media and growing disillusionment among ordinary workers in our communities have allowed these groups to grow.

When people feel frustrated with the system and have been failed by the government, it becomes easy to blame others (usually minority groups) for their issues. To counteract this, we need to bolster investment and delivery in housing, health, education, and public services. In tandem we must reform our immigration system to shorten waiting times and enhance integration.

Lastly, it's crucial to hold social media companies accountable for disseminating misinformation and radicalising users on their platforms.