Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We are awaiting the dissolution Bill, and perhaps Mr. Clegg will provide an indication as to when he believes this will come on stream. The authority was originally established as the Custom House Docks Development Authority in 1986 and it because the Dublin Docklands Development Authority in 1997. It has been in existence for well over a quarter of a century and its activities have left a very bad taste in the mouths of the members of local communities. Sheriff Street lies cheek by jowl with the docklands development area, DDA. There is 100% employment in that area, but in Sheriff Street there is an unemployment rate of over 60%. The level of community gain has been very limited. Some €7 million was supposed to be spent on a school but that development never materialised and neither did the local employment charter and the 20% commitment attaching to it. Can Mr. Clegg indicate how this is going to be rectified in the new strategic development zone? Many developments occurred during the Celtic tiger period and there are now many iconic buildings, office blocks, etc., in the DDA. The area is a very desirable location for companies that are seeking to establish operations in the city. Nevertheless, development there has led to the creation of a ghetto-type situation. The evidence of this is now more stark than ever, and something must be done in the context of the SDZ to eliminate the poverty and deprivation that exist cheek by jowl with enormous affluence and 100% employment.