Jobs boost for Northside from DCU Alpha plan

DETAILS of new plans to support 100 companies and 450 new jobs over the next three years at the DCU Alpha campus were unveiled last week.

Origially called DCU Innovation Campus, Alpha is an innovation cluster that has become home to more than 30 companies and 350 high-tech jobs since its establishment in late 2013.

The office, laboratory and industrial research facility in DCU Alpha, based on Old Finglas Road, Glasnevin, has evolved into a group of innovative hi-tech and mostly start-up companies.

The first expansions under the new Alpha identity are a significant 30 new jobs announcement and R&D facility by Neosfar, an innovative Irish IoT (Internet of Things) company, and the confirmation by Indian software multinational, NIIT Ltd, that its new European Delivery Centre will be located at the campus.

CEO of Neosfar, Mark McCarville, said his company was delighted to announce their 30 highly skilled jobs at Alpha.

“We already know and work with many of the companies based here and that cluster of cross-fertilisation opportunity, coupled with the access to graduate talent and key researchers in DCU, made this location an ideal one from our perspective,” he said.

“We look forward to moving into our custom designed engineering lab and office space over the coming weeks.

“We are already well progressed in terms of hiring the key staff we need.”

Alpha is backed by Enterprise Ireland and IDA and the latest phase of its development was announced by Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton, who described it as a “huge boost” for the Northside.

“Two thirds of all new jobs are created by start-ups in their first five years of existence – that is why as part of the Action Plan for Jobs we are putting in place a range of measures to support entrepreneurs,” he said.

“Crucial in this is incubator and accelerator spaces and innovation clusters – facilities for companies to locate in their early years of existence where they can have access to supports, mentoring and crucially where they can be close to other entrepreneurs to share experiences and bounce ideas off. 

“I was delighted to launch the DCU Innovation Campus in 2013 as part of our Action Plan for Jobs – and it is hugely encouraging to see today that they have doubled their ambitions.”

Local Labour TD, John Lyons, described news of the expansion as “an extremely positive development” for the community.

“DCU Alpha now intends to increase the number of businesses it supports from 30 to 100, which is more than double the amount envisaged in the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs in 2013,” he said.

“It is hugely encouraging to see that the approach of the Action Plan for Jobs is working and the benefits are reaching our local area.” 

Local Sinn Fein councillor, Cathleen Carney Boud, also welcomed the announcement but warned that necessary housing and transport infrastructure must also be put in place.

“The area of Dublin North West has been severely affected by the economic collapse and austerity measures implemented by the current government,” she said.

“I would hope that new jobs will provide a much needed boost for the local economy.

“The Government must ensure that the housing and accommodation needs for these new workers are met and there must be a review of parking protocol in the area.

“Local residents are already suffering the effects of overflow from DCU’s current capacity and measures must be put in place to ensure that parking needs are adequately met.”