Dublin Metropolitan Area
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dublin Metropolitan Area is a term used by various bodies to describe the area of Dublin and its surrounding counties which have an urban designation; between these bodies its definition is not always consistent.
[edit] Garda usage
| Division | Districts |
|---|---|
| North | Coolock |
| Raheny | |
| Santry | |
| South | Crumlin |
| Rathfarnham | |
| Rathmines | |
| East | Blackrock |
| Bray | |
| Dún Laoghaire | |
| West | Blanchardstown |
| Ballyfermot | |
| Lucan | |
| North Central | Bridewell |
| Mountjoy | |
| Store Street | |
| South Central | Donnybrook |
| Kevin Street | |
| Pearse Street |
The term is used by the Irish police force, the Garda Síochána, to describe the legal boundaries of the Dublin district. This area covers the Dublin Region except the part of County Fingal north of Swords. This area is covered by the Louth and Meath Garda Division. The Dublin Metropolitan area also includes the Kildare town of Leixlip, and the Wicklow towns of Bray, Greystones, and Enniskerry. This boundary has legal importance, as for example licences for digital television in Dublin, such as that held by NTL Ireland, cover the Metropolitan Area.
The term originated from the Police Forces Amalgamation Act, 1925 (Section 3); that act amagamated the Dublin Metropolitan Police and Garda Síochána as one national police force. The term Dublin Metropolitan Region has gained prevalence in recent years for Dublin Metropolitan Area.
[edit] Planning usage
The term is also used in the Strategic Planning Guidelines[1] for the Greater Dublin Area to refer to the area of Dublin and its environs which is to be consolidated as a suburban and metropolitan district. It differentiates between which towns are considered suburbs, and which are considered commuter towns. The area is considered as being from Swords and Malahide in Fingal in the north to Greystones in County Wicklow in the south, and as far west as Kilcock in County Kildare. This differs from the Gardaí's designation in that it stretches some 20 km further west.
