Northside jobs boost welcomed

THE Northside got a much-needed employment boost last week when a local university announced that 500 jobs would be created over the next five years as part of a new innovation campus.

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton announced the plan at DCU in Glasnevin.

The planned campus will be the national centre for innovation in the Cleantech sector, one of the fastest growing areas of economic activity and worth more than

?¬5 trillion globally.

The new facility, which will be a location of choice for Cleantech start-ups, SMEs and larger companies, is expected to drive significant green economy growth in the North Dublin and Leinster area.

It is hoped that the DCU project will support 200 jobs in the first 18 months, with an expectation of this figure growing to about 500 jobs over a five-year period, coupled with a more than e10 million return for the Irish economy.

The Cleantech sector is aimed at developing innovative products and services to address sustainability issues concerning water, waste, energy and emissions.

The establishment of the Innovation Campus follows the transfer of a vacant Enterprise Ireland-owned site to DCU for the purposes of this project.

President of DCU, Professor Brian MacCraith, said the university is committed to delivering innovation and economic impact at both regional and national level,

“Ireland is facing unprecedented economic challenges that require innovative and bold strategic actions if we are to regain competitiveness,

? he stated.

“As Ireland’s University of Enterprise, DCU is strongly committed to delivering real innovation with an economic impact.

“Through the establishment of this new Cleantech hub, companies can leverage the significant research expertise of DCU and its extensive partner network.

?

Professor MacCraith said this would particularly be in the area of sustainability,

“thus positioning Dublin and Ireland as examples of best practice in public-private collaboration to solve the global issues of energy and environmental challenges

?.

According to Minister Bruton, the green economy is a targeted sector of the Government’s plans for jobs and growth.

“The DCU Innovation Campus will play a key role in this by bringing together innovative start-ups and more established companies with the skills and ideas that only a university can provide,

? he stated.

Minister Bruton said the Government wants to see the creation of 10,000 new jobs in the sector over the coming years.

“This initiative is a great example of using scarce State resources in smart ways to drive job creation, and provides a model of what we must do across Government if we are to create the jobs we need,

? he added.

It is expected that high-tech companies set-up on the campus will offer access to skills and facilities to help facilitate growth.

Dalkia, the utilities and energy management service provider, headed up by former Dublin football manager Pat Gilroy, has been confirmed as the first tenant in the new Campus.

“Dalkia is delighted to be partnering with DCU in its establishment of this exciting new Innovation Campus,

? Mr Gilroy stated.

“It will provide invaluable opportunities for Dalkia, and other Cleantech companies, to link into the existing and growing network of collaborations in the north Dublin Green Way Cluster to achieve competitive advantage and growth.

?