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Docklands Social Policies 2008

From its inception, the Authority has been committed to developing a model of social regeneration majoring on community gain, believing that the people of Docklands should have a sense of ownership in their area and derive pride from participation in its development.  The Social Regeneration Directorate bases its operation on the pivotal importance, in human development terms, of (a) a sense of belonging to families and communities, and (b) ‘self-actualisation’. Today, when the sense of belonging and self-actualisation within Docklands is examined, a measurable transformation is clearly evident. Community groups representing all age cohorts are actively involved in the creation of housing, recreational and educational infrastructure.

Population
The population of the Docklands rose by 26.8% in the period 1996–2006, a much greater increase than found anywhere else in Ireland during the same period. The level of growth wit­nessed in the Docklands moderated slightly in the 2002–2006 period compared to that expe­rienced in the 1996–2002 period. The Docklands has a huge preponderance of people in the 15-24 and 25-44 age groups when compared to Dublin City, Dublin County and the State in general. Docklands has a lower proportion of the population in the cohorts 0-14 years and 65+ years compared to the City as a whole.

Social Class
The Docklands experienced an increase in the number of professional, managerial and technical residents between 1996 and 2006. During the same period, in the number of unskilled workers and, to a lesser extent, skilled-manual and semi-skilled workers in the Area underwent significant decline. In 2006, the Docklands working population was distributed thus:

• Professional Workers 9.6%
• Managerial and Technical  21.8%
• Non Manual 14.4%
• Skilled Manual 11.7%
• Semi Skilled 9.9%
• Unskilled 5.1%
• Others Gainfully Employed 27.6%

Community Gain
To develop a sustainable community in the Docklands it is necessary to ensure that the community continues to benefit from ongoing development through the provision of additional community facilities and other resources. Instead of profits accruing solely to private developers, the goal of Community Gain is to ensure entitlements and improved quality of life for local people. These entitlements  include additional jobs, apprenticeships and training initiatives negotiated through a Local Employment Initiative, additional social and/or affordable housing, providing and/or improving public open space, social and community infrastructure, or the renewal, extension or provision of premises for community uses. The Masterplan 2008 states that the Authority will use its resources strategically to gain maximum impact through direct investment in the development and strengthening of an inclusive, assertive and representative community-based infrastructure.

Education
The Docklands has a level of educational attainment higher than that of Dublin City, Dublin County and the State generally. Docklands’ representation across all  third-level classifications increased between the 2002 and 2006. The proportion of the Docklands population attaining a postgraduate qualification or doctorate (14.9%) is significantly higher than comparable figures for Dublin City (10.6%), Dublin County (10.5%) and the State (7.1%) in 2006.

The Authority promotes initiatives aimed at providing education for the entire community and works closely with the communities, school principals, teachers, the National College of Ireland, FAS and all other relevant providers in the continued development of these initiatives.
A great deal of innovation, creativity and informed responsiveness is evident in the range of educational programmes the Authority has established. These focus on improving the personal development, education and employment prospects of local people and they include:

• Third-Level Scholarship
• Discovering University
• Docklands Schools Music Programme
• Docklands Schools Drama Programme
• Therapeutic Crisis Intervention  Forum.

Third Level Education
The National College of Ireland (NCI) located in the IFSC with the assistance of the Authority and opened its doors to more than 3,000 full and part-time students in September 2002. It offers courses in business, management and information technology.  The NCI phase two was granted 0.5 Ha for the development of a Centre for Educational Opportunity, which is committed to providing education for Docklands residents.  The Trinity Access Programme also assists local residents in accessing third-level education. In addition, the Authority has awarded 239 third-level scholarships to date and operates a part-time scholarship programme to assist Docklands residents who wish to further their education

Employment
The 2006 Census highlights that the Docklands has the highest labour force participation rate (62.5%) of any of the areas considered. This is particularly notable given that in 1996 the labour force participation rate in the Docklands (44.1%) lagged that of Dublin City (46.7%), Dublin County (49.5%) and the State (47.3%). However, the Authority acknowledges that some parts of the Docklands have unemployment rates twice the average for the Area and, in particular, that pockets of higher unemployment remain.

The Authority’s Social Programmes Unit oversees employment, training and educational programmes. The Schools Jobs Placement Scheme, the introduction of the Financial Services Programme, the Apprenticeship Programme and the Local Employment Charter has resulted in a total of 225 direct job placements within the last five years. This is in addition to other general employment opportunities for residents in the Area. The Local Employment Initiatives Review Group has delivered 120 jobs in IFSC II, over 90% of them going to residents who had been on the long-term unemployment register.

Housing
New housing development should be promoted with the aim of enhancing sustainability, both through the design and layout of buildings and residential areas and through the use of appropriate materials. Living accommodation should be tailored to the residents and their lifestyles and provide a range of tenure options. The number of couples with children in the Docklands has fallen significantly from 46.1% in 1996 to 32.5% in 2006, and the percentage of childless family units has doubled during the same period. The CLC recognises the need to have a “family-living” character in Docklands and has already succeeded in securing the construction of two-bedroom units for seniors, as well as larger social and affordable homes with storage space and play facilities in all new developments.

The 2008 Docklands Master Plan will promote the continued delivery of high-quality housing for contemporary urban living. The challenge is to continue to position Docklands as a place that attracts a variety of residents and family types, providing them with the opportunity to raise their families in a safe, people-friendly environment. In consultation with the local community, the Authority has developed familiarisation courses for people moving into social and affordable homes in the area.

Community Development
The Docklands Social Regeneration Programme embraces the entire community with a customised range of programmes including community development, social infrastructure, housing, employment and education.

Integral to the Authority’s Social Regeneration Programme has been the Active Citizenship Course, designed to ensure the local community can take ownership of the regeneration of the area to ensure its sustainability when the Authority’s remit has ended. In addition, the Authority introduced the Community Development Project Initiative (CDPI) programme into Docklands in 1999. Under this programme, community groups can apply for a 60% grant for approved non-commercial community projects. To date, almost €620,000 has been approved for allocation to a total of 43 projects from community groups in Docklands and its immediate hinterland under the CDPI’s programme of 2006/2007.

Functions provided in local community groups include primary and secondary level educational assistance, community development and training, parish work, crèche and playgroup facilities, sports and youth volunteers, community credit, enterprise and employment resources, and recycling enterprises. Through the Master Plan 2008, the Authority will seek to continue community development towards achieving a sustainable platform for community growth. The Point Village and Poolbeg, where significant growth is envisaged, will be developed to incorporate facilities such as community centres, libraries, churches, and health clinics.

Community Organisations
Community organisations have collectively played a crucial role in the regeneration of the Docklands. Partnership between the Authority, local community groups, local business and statutory agencies has provided a strong basis for development and, accordingly, should be continually strengthened.

The Community Liaison Committee (CLC) members have, over the past five years, lobbied the Authority to set up a community trust for the long-term sustainability of social regeneration within Docklands. In response, the Authority has recently set up the Docklands Community Trust with an initial endowment of €1.2 million. It is intended that the Trust will build on this initial capital sum to support current and future programmes after the Authority itself ceases to exist. In addition, the CLC members have worked together with the Authority to set up a housing trust for the long-term sustainability of housing within the Docklands. The Authority has also set up a Seniors’ Forum to establish a ‘senior model’ for the Area.

Community Integration
Before 2002, Docklands was principally made up of five communities: East Wall, North Strand, Sheriff Street/North Wall, City Quay/Westland Row and Ringsend/Irishtown. Each maintained independent community facilities, schools and retail outlets. Infrastructure improvement in Docklands has now created the opportunity to encourage interaction between existing communities and the development of new communities such as East Point, North Lotts, City Quay, and Grand Canal Docks, creating increased potential for fostering community integration.

Over the last five years, efforts have been made to encourage social integration within and between the communities. Such integration is necessary to sustain and build communities, and enable individuals, groups and communities to actively participate in identifying and addressing local needs. The 2008 Master Plan will be a pivotal catalyst, a crucial opportunity for all groups and community organisations to have access to decision-making structures and the participatory process.