ALEXANDER BASIN REDEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY CONSULTATION
As part of the public consultation being undertaken by the Dublin Port Company, following its recent lodging of a planning application to redevelop the AlexanderBasin, a public information session took place in the Sean O’Casey Centre in recentweeks. Officials in DublinPort Company have said that the information session was very well attended and many questions and queries were posed. The two most frequent issues raised by those that attended include the potential for local employment as part of the construction phase of the redevelopment and the possibility of a new community garden for East Wall. These are issues that I will be pursuing with the Port Company particularly the need for local employment opportunities. A lot can be learned from the Grangegorman Development Agency’s use of local labour clauses in agreements with selected contractors.
FUNDING FOR DEVELOPMENT OF YOUTH FACILITIES
The Department of Children recently allocated approximately €1.7m in funding to groups across the Inner City to assist with the development of youth facilities. This money will enable community groups to more effectively direct young people in the area away from the dangers of substance abuse, helping them to build more stable and secure futures. Among the groups due to receive funding from the Department of Children include Bradog, St. Agatha’s / SWAN and the East Wall / North Port Youth Development Group that will receive €111,238. Targeting public funds in ways that ensures our children get the best possible start in life is the best way of using our resources.