It has been confirmed that The Screen cinema in Dublin, which has occupied a key site close to Trinity College and College Green for over 35 years, is to close in one week's time because of falling attendances.

The site may now become part of massive planned development involving the Department of Health’s building next door.

Siptu, the union which represents employees of the cinema, said that workers had been told that they would be offered a redundancy settlement or a transfer to the Savoy cinema which is also operated by IMC.

However, The Irish Times reports that Siptu has said that the redundancy offer has been withdrawn, and staff will be transferred to The Savoy from Monday, February 29th.

The cinema has been in operation as The Screen since 1980 - the site's history as a city centre cinema dates back to 1938.

Elsewhere...

In other Dublin property news, Stafford’s Funeral Directors are to transform the former Tayto manufacturing plant in Coolock North Dublin into a new Headquarters incorporating offices, chapels, resting rooms and florists.

Meanwhile across the city in Tallaght, Amazon has commenced the planning process for a new data centre to be located on the site of the former Jacobs biscuit factory which closed nearly eight years ago

Back to the city centre there has been confirmation of a new future for Frawleys, the landmark former department store on Thomas Street, close to the Guinness Brewery. The UK firm, Hattington Capital is to invest €25m in developing 250 new student accommodation units in the building.