Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour) | Oireachtas source

In the area of employment provision for docklands residents, either during the construction phase of developments or thereafter, it is not possible under current national or EU legislation to discriminate positively in favour of local residents. There are many objectives within the North Lotts and Grand Canal Dock strategic development zone planning scheme that address this issue. For example, objective ER11 of the SDZ scheme for 2014 requires Dublin City Council to liaise with agencies and organisations to maximise employment and training opportunities for docklands residents. That process has already commenced, with the council's docklands unit working with developers and local employment services to maximise new employment opportunities both at construction and in liaison with new employers in the area. The rate of employment through local employment services will be monitored and reported to the docklands community council and its successor within Dublin City Council, the docklands oversight and consultative forum.

In addition, objective ER10 requires Dublin City Council to facilitate and harness the employment-generating opportunities of the support services sector and local enterprise services, working with a range of key skilled, semi-skilled, unskilled and volunteer workers of all ages as part of the overall economic regeneration for the wider docklands area.Furthermore, objective ER12 requires the city council to facilitate agencies and organisations, in particular those engaged in employment and training initiatives in the docklands, to work together in a co-ordinated manner in order to maximise employment, volunteer and training opportunities for residents of all ages in the docklands area. Objective CD10 requires Dublin City Council to promote a docklands local employment steering group with relevant stakeholders to facilitate an employment strategy to promote enhanced local employment access with a specific regard for younger and older people. Objective CD12 requires the city council to provide commercial facilities, such as local supermarkets, restaurants, cafés and leisure facilities, that provide opportunities for local employment and locations for the community to interact, meet and socialise so as to assist community development.