Ballymun jobs call

A PUBLIC representative is calling on Dublin City Council to provide young people in Ballymun with the opportunity for employment as a result of the demolition of the local shopping centre.

Independent councillor, Noeleen Reilly, said she had been approached by a number of young people from Poppintree Youth who had asked about the possibility of getting work from the demolition project, which is due to start towards the end of the year.

She stated: “I had previously asked the council to ensure a social clause was in the tender contract for demolition so local people could benefit from the employment that would be generated from the works. There is a feeling in the area that local people were sidelined when it came to employment in Ballymun during regeneration and that the necessary training was not provided for people to apply for jobs.

“We have a number of projects coming up in the area and I certainly don’t want to see the same thing happen again.”

The matter was raised with the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government in a parliamentary question submitted by Independent TD Maureen O’Sullivan.

In response, Minister Eoghan Murphy stated: “Dublin City Council have advised my Department that they are in the process of making an application for planning permission to demolish the former Ballymun Shopping Centre. The city council hope to have a contractor appointed later this year.   

“While every effort will be made to use local labour, demolition contracts require specialist skills and training pertaining to machine driving, asbestos removal, demolition general operative duties and security.

He added that the council would be happy to engage with the Ballymun Job Centre to see if existing programmes meet the needs of young persons involved in Poppintree Youth Project.