County Dublin Guide: Local Services, Businesses and News

Dublin at a glance

Dublin is Ireland's capital and home to nearly 1.5 million people, which makes it the country's biggest market for every kind of local service.

It's really four areas in one. Dublin City covers the centre and inner suburbs. Fingal stretches north through Swords, Malahide and Skerries to Balbriggan. South Dublin takes in Tallaght, Lucan and Clondalkin, and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown runs along the south coast from Blackrock to the Dublin Mountains.

From independent cafés and pubs to plumbers, childminders and accountants, every neighbourhood has its own local businesses worth knowing about.

Your address decides which council looks after you: Dublin City Council, Fingal County Council, South Dublin County Council or Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. They handle planning, parking permits, roads, housing and libraries.

• Bins and recycling: household waste is collected by private operators, so compare the providers that serve your street.
• Water: managed by Uisce Éireann. Report leaks and supply problems to them, not the council.
• Motor tax: renew online at motortax.ie.
• Getting around: Dublin Bus, Luas, DART and commuter rail all take a TFI Leap Card, which works out cheaper than paying cash.

In apartments, repairs to shared areas are usually handled by the management company, so check with them before booking a tradesperson.

Dublin has thousands of tradespeople, so a few checks help you pick the right one:

1. Get three written quotes and confirm whether VAT, materials and waste removal are included.

2. Ask for proof of insurance before work starts, especially for roofing, building and tree work.

3. Check registrations: electricians should be registered with Safe Electric, and gas installers with RGII. For home energy grants, use an SEAI-registered contractor.

4. Apartments and terraces: check your management company rules and any parking or skip permits with your council before work begins.

5. Book early for winter: boiler services and chimney sweeps get busy from October.

6. Choose someone local: a tradesperson based in your area is quicker to call back and easier to reach if something goes wrong.

Search Dublin tradespeople by area on Leinster Local and send an enquiry directly to the business, with no account needed.

Competition in Dublin is fierce, so make it easy for local customers to choose you:

• Four Local Enterprise Offices: Dublin City, Fingal, South Dublin and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown each offer mentoring, training and grants. Contact the one for your business address.
• Trading Online Vouchers through your Local Enterprise Office can help with a website, online booking or e-commerce.
• Be specific about your area: list the neighbourhoods and Dublin postcodes you cover, so people searching nearby find you.
• Complete your listing: photos, accurate opening hours and genuine reviews make the biggest difference in a crowded market.

List your Dublin business free on Leinster Local, and upgrade to Premium for featured placement and more photos.