APPROVAL FOR GRANGEGORMAN PLANNING SCHEME
Following the conclusion of the An Bord Pleanala Oral Hearing into concerns highlighted by local residents, the planning scheme for the redevelopment of the Grangegorman site was recently approved. This decision paves the way for the construction of new DIT educational facilities, a HSE medical centre and the completion of the Mental Health facility. Throughout the past year, I have been liaising with the Grangegorman Development Agency and various Government Departments to ensure that necessary HSE land transfers have been completed to enable a revised plan for funding to be submitted and approved.
PHASE ONE FUNDING SECURED
The Taoiseach and the Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform Brendan Howlin TD announced details earlier today of the Government’s €2 billion Infrastructure Investment Programme. As part of this programme, it was announced that three elements of the Grangegorman regeneration project will now proceed. These works include:
- Refurbishment of existing protected & listed structures to bring them into educational use. Upon completion of these works, it is likely that 1,000 students will be located on site by 2014.
- Funding will be provided to support Public Private Partnerships that will see the construction of two quadrants of the campus. These will house facilities for Sports & Science with the second housing the Arts & Tourism Departments. It is expected that with the completion of this element, in 2017, 10,000 students will be studying on site.
- The final element of today’s announcement is funding for the provision of necessary infrastructure works across the campus. These works will start shortly and the focus will be on the construction of new roads, pipes and drains and other basic infrastructural necessities. This element will continue throughout the first phase of the project.
Work is continuing on the construction of the HSE’s new Mental Health Replacement facility on the North Circular Road end of the site. It is hoped that this facility will be completed by the end of the year with patients being transferred into the new centre by the start of 2013.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL EMPLOYMENT
The securing of funding for completion for the first phase of this project means there are significant construction work opportunities for residents living in the Stoneybatter, Cabra and Phibsborough areas. In addition to ensuring that this project was included in the Government’s Infrastructure Programme, I have been working to ensure that as many of these jobs as possible are provided to local people. Therefore, I welcome the creation of a Grangegorman Employment Charter that will see all Contractors and sub-contractors awarded contracts on this project being obliged to fill 20% of all jobs locally. Along with Councillors Mary O’Shea and Ray McAdam, I will be pursuing these local labour agreements vigorously with the GDA.
PROGRESSING THE REGENERATION OF NORTH-WEST DUBLIN
The announcement of our Fine Gael-led Government to proceed with the construction of the Grangegorman redevelopment highlights our commitment to revitalising the north western-area of our city. Over the coming years, this project along with the construction of the LUAS through Phibsborough and onto Cabra, the regeneration of Dominick Street and O’Devaney Gardens and the construction of improved school facilities for our children will show how this Government is determined to provide better educational, transport and housing facilities for this area.