Transformation Week 25 has come and gone, and it has reminded us of the incredible strides made in public service innovation and offered a glimpse into what lies ahead. This annual celebration brought together councils across Dublin to share stories of creativity, collaboration, and impact.
The week began with Dublin City Council’s Shane Waring sharing the Beta Projects innovation initiative with staff in South Dublin County Council.
Fingal County Council invited Dublin City Council’s North City Depot Superintendent Roy O’Donnell to share his gully cleaning innovation with staff at the Swords and Coolmine depots. Roy shared his journey of tackling a persistent gully cleaning challenge through ingenuity and persistence. His message was clear: speak up when you have a good idea and commit to seeing it through. With over 30 years of experience, Roy emphasised the importance of testing, refining, and retesting solutions. His story will have no doubt given the staff at Coolmine and Swords food for thought when it comes to putting new ideas to the test.
Dublin City Council marked Transformation Week 25 with an engaging Transformation Day event at the Wood Quay venue in the Dublin City Council Civics building. Opening the event, Jamie Cudden welcomed CEO, Richard Shakespeare to discuss the critical role of innovation in shaping Dublin’s future. The day featured project spotlights, including Nicola Graham’s presentation on the Gen AI Lab, where she spoke about the collaboration with Adapt and Trinity College and how the project puts Dublin at the forefront of AI-driven solutions. Dublin City Council BETA projects lead Shane Waring showcased a civic office redesign project aimed at creating a more functional and welcoming space for citizens. Panel discussions explored the future of planning, housing, and community development, as well as ambitious transformation plans for Dublin City Centre in 2026.
South Dublin County Council also joined the celebration with its Staff Innovation Awards, recognising projects that have enhanced services and improved quality of life. The overall winner, The Little Library at Tallaght University Hospital, stood out for its community impact. Other notable winners included Steel Fabrication in South Dublin Parks, LEO Programmes for under-represented groups, and Quick Pay, a new online payment system.
Collectively, these events underscore a shared commitment across councils to embrace innovation, foster transformation, and deliver exceptional public service. By championing creativity and collaboration, we continue to build smarter, more inclusive communities for the future.