NEIC Community Benefits
Employment
Dublin Corporation has employed many local people from the NEIC area and an Employment strategy has been developed and linkages formed with FAS, Larkin Community College, CERT, LES, Larkin Unemployment Centre, Wholetime Jobs Initiative, CTW and the LYCS.
All local employment and community agencies believe that the lack of childcare facilities is a barrier to employment. This is problem has been addressed by the Local Childcare Action Group brought together by DC in June 2000 to develop a strategy for the provision of childcare for the NEIC. A construction skills course, which was a collaboration between Dublin Corporation, FAS and the LES was established. There were sixteen places on the course and the majority were from the inner city.
Working closely with LYCS, the Larkin Jobs Club and the Outreach Development Officer of the Larkin Community College in their attempts to place and support their clients into retail jobs. In partnership with FAS and the LES, an innovative retail course has been developed in accordance to the needs of the unemployed in the NEIC & HARP IAPs. Five major retail outlets agreed to sponsor a number of candidates each. There are three trainees from the area on the course. It is innovative because it markets training as a means to a job with an identified employer.
Social & Community Benefits
All the Dublin City Council tenants in the NEIC were invited to a consultation regarding the proposed developments in the area. Dublin City Council assured the community that together they will create housing and an environment through close consultation.
Childcare
Childcare is crucial to the attainment of employment and training. Out of an exploratory meeting held in 2000 a local strategy was developed.
Aims of the Strategy:
- increase childcare places in the area, protect the well being of children by appropriate training of childcare workers and by regulation of childcare provision
- further national fiscal and social policy measures to reconcile work and family life, including family friendly policies in employment.
At least five major childcare facilities are planned for the NEIC. The overall concept centres around the formation of a ‘not-for-profit company’ by joint partners i.e. Dublin City Council and a strategic partner. This company will provide the framework for a professional management and staffing facility with quality care objectives.
Education
DC together with NCI have developed a ‘Parents in Education’ course for tenants (though not exclusively) of the NEIC area. The course is 2-3 years, 20 weeks and incorporates personal development, community development, and environmental issues. One morning course and one evening course commenced in October 2000.
Arts
There is a one percent arts scheme, which affords an opportunity to develop a strategy for catering for all the relevant community arts requested in the area. The Municipal Arts Centre (MAC) is to be relocated in the Liberty Corner development.
Environmental Benefits
To create a rejuvenated environmentally sustainable a NEIC Environmental Strategy group formed with membership drawn across the tenants and local businesses and community organisations. In collaboration with the Lord Mayor’s ‘No Litter Initiative’ the NEIC launched a pilot anti-litter campaign that focuses on a wide variety of measures to mitigate the occurrence of litter. This is a partnership approach between the Corporation, The Garda, local residents, business groups and schools. The aim of the campaign is to heighten awareness of the litter problem in the area and to make it litter free and maintains as we would like to see the whole city.
The campaign will:
- Provide a chewing gum removal service
- Provide a graffiti removal service
- Increase the number of litter bins
- Increase the number of litter wardens
- Initiate an intensive public information and persuasion campaign aimed at schools
Environmental Upgrade of the City Canals
DC and Duchas as a joint development conducted an environmental improvement of the City Canal within the NEIC area. Dublin Corporation and Waterways Ireland each committed 560,000 euro over three years for the upgrading of the Royal and Grand Canals. The monies were apportioned over the two canals.
Posted by Reflecting City Team on Tuesday, September 16, 2008
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