Lord Mayor of Dublin Commission on Employment

EMPLOYMENT
DUBLIN CITY
LORD MAYOR’S COMMISSION ON
GLOBAL city
CREATIVE city
OPEN city
LEARNING city
LIVEABLE city
WORKING city

Published by: Lord Mayor’s Office, Mansion House, June 2010
ISBN: 978 -1-902703-37-4
Report available in PDF format — contact edu@dublincity.ie

Lord Mayor Cllr. Emer Costello
Cllr. Paddy Bourke
Cllr. Mannix Flynn
Cllr. Mary Freehill
Cllr. Paul McAuliffe
Cllr. Ruairi McGinley
Cllr. Rebecca Moynihan
Cllr. Eoghan Murphy
Cllr. Aodhan O’Riordan
Cllr. Maria Parodi
Cllr. Nial Ring
Outside Agencies
Mary Beggan,
FÁS
Fiona Corke,
Leargas
Edel Flynn,
Digital Hub Agency
Philip O’Connor,
Dublin Employment Pact
Dr. Declan Redmond,
University College Dublin
Dermot Ryan,
DHR Communications
(South West Inner City Local
Employment Services)
David Treacy,
City of Dublin Vocational
Education Committee
Dublin City Council Officials
Michael Stubbs,
Assistant City Manager
Declan Wallace,
Executive Manager
Lorna Maxwell,
Senior Executive Officer
Kieran Rose,
Senior Planner
Paul Kearns,
Senior Planner
Nial Dully,
Administrative Officer
Helen O’Leary,
Research Officer
Jamie Cudden,
Research Manager
Lord Mayor’s Commission on Employment Members
Front Row (L-R): Cllr. Nial Ring, John Tierney, City Manager, Lord Mayor Cllr. Emer Costello, Commissioner Maire Geoghegan-Quinn,
Cllr. Eoghan Murphy, Cllr. Ruairi McGinley.
Back Row (L-R): Declan Wallace, Michael Stubbs, Jamie Cudden, Edel Flynn, Dr. Declan Redmond, Cllr. Aodhain O’Riordan, David Treacy,
Cllr. Rebecca Moynihan, Philip O’Connor, Nial Dully, Kieran Rose, Cllr. Paddy Bourke, Lorna Maxwell, Cllr. Mary Freehill.

Lord Mayor’s Commission on Employment
Contents

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2
1. Introduction 9
2. DUBLIN CITY, SMART CITY 11
2.1 Dublin as the National Economic Engine 11
2.2 City Competitiveness and Change 12
2.3 Recommendations 12
3. WORKING CITY 13
3.1 Employment and Unemployment 13
3.2 Employment and Skills Strategy 14
3.3 Preventing Unemployment 15
3.4 Marginalised Workers 17
3.5 Green Economy/Clean Technology 18
3.6 Tourism 19
3.7 Retail and Restaurants 20
3.8 Life Sciences and Health Sector 20
3.9 Dublin Financial Services Have a Bright Future 21
3.10 Entrepreneurship 21
3.11 Social Entrepreneurs 21
3.12 Finance 22
3.13 European Initiatives 22

Dublin City Council
4. LEARNING CITY 27
4.1 Learning City: Education, Training and
Skills and Economic Recovery 27
4.2 Educate for Creativity: For Future Needs 27
4.3 Opening Out the Knowledge Economy to Everyone:
Tackling Educational Disadvantage 28
4.4 National Qualification Framework: Pathway Through Education 30
4.5 Lifelong Learning/Adult Education 30
4.6 Third Level Education 31
5. CREATIVE CITY 33
5.1 Creative Industries 33
5.2 The Digital Content and Technology Sector 34
5.3 Film and Media 34
5.4 Dublin City Culture Strategy 2011-2017 35
5.5 The City, Architecture, Urban Design,
Landscape Architecture, Planning 36
5.6 Street/Café Culture 36
5.7 Making Creative Use of Available Space 37
6. OPEN CITY 39
6.1 Open City 39
6.2 Innovation 39
6.3 Innovation Dublin 40
6.4 Innovation Union 41
6.5 Diversity and the City 41
6.6 Open Cities: Global 41
6. 7 Recommendations 42

7. GLOBAL CITY 43
7.1 Global City 43
7.2 Global Competitiveness 43
7.3 Global Connectivity 44
7.4 Global Community 44
7.5 International Students 44
7.6 International Designations 45
7.7 Embassies / Diplomatic Corps 45
8. LIVEABLE CITY 47
8.1 Liveable City 47
8.2 International Benchmarking 47
8.3 Community – Key to Liveability 48
8.4 City Landscape and Environment 49
8.5 Health and Wellbeing 50
8.6 Volunteering 51
Appendices
Appendix 1: LMCE Issues Paper 53
Appendix 2: Submissions Received 55
Appendix 3: Presentations Made to LMCE 57
Appendix 4: Summaries of Key Issues Raised at LMCE Workshops 58
Appendix 5: LMCE Recommendation to the Dublin City Draft
Development Plan (2011-2017) 61
Appendix 6: Glossaries 64
Appendix 7: Select Bibliography 65

1
On my election as Lord Mayor of Dublin in June
2009 I made it my priority to establish a Lord
Mayor’s Commission on Employment (LMCE) to
ensure that the Members of Dublin City Council
could play a pivotal role in the development and
promotion of economic recovery and job creation
in the City.
The LMCE is comprised of Councillors on a cross-
party basis, external advisors and officials from
Dublin City Council. Two working groups were
established to assist the LMCE with its work.
Working Group 1 convened by Cllr. Ruairí
McGinley examined the issues around
Employment/Unemployment, Business,
Entrepreneurship and Finance.
Working Group 2 convened by Cllr. Paddy
Bourke examined issues around Education, Skills
and Training, Volunteering and Social Economy.
The LMCE met on eight occasions. In addition
to full Commission meetings, Working Group
1 met on five occasions and Working Group 2
met on six occasions and a number of other sub
group meetings took place. Fieldtrips across
Dublin City as well as to Limerick and Tipperary
looking at models of good practice were also
undertaken. A public “Call for Ideas” was issued
in September 2009 and one hundred and thirty-
two submissions were received.
This report highlights the main findings of the
LMCE in the course of the past nine months,
taking on board the public consultation, the
reports from two workshops hosted by the
LMCE in January, ‘Promoting the Cultural and
Creative Industries’ and ‘Promoting Dublin as an
International Student City’, and the wide-ranging
discussion at the Croke Park Conference ‘Dublin
– A City that Works’ on 23 April, 2010.
I would like to thank the many organisations
and members of the public who contributed
to the process by making submissions, giving
presentations and participating in the workshops
held in January and the Dublin – A City that
Works Conference in April.
I would also like to thank the Members of the
LMCE for their energy, hard work, commitment
and creativity over the past year in developing
the ideas and putting together this report. The
assistance of external experts was invaluable
in framing the recommendations and I am
grateful for their input. Finally, on behalf of the
Members of the LMCE, I would like to express
our appreciation and gratitude to the City
Manager, Assistant City Manager and staff from
the Economic Development Unit for their help,
encouragement and enthusiasm for this project
and for their professionalism in supporting the
work of the Commission throughout the year.
Cllr. Emer Costello
Lord Mayor of Dublin
June 2010
Foreword

2
Dublin City Council
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Lord Mayor’s Commission on Employment
(LMCE) is comprised of Councillors, external
advisors and officials from Dublin City Council
and was established in September 2009 to
develop an agenda that prioritises jobs and
economic renewal in Dublin City.
The employment challenges facing the City are
unprecedented. During the period from 1995
to 2007 the Dublin region enjoyed one of the
highest rates of employment growth across
European cities and capitals. However, in 2007/8
the situation began to change radically.
Nationally, unemployment rose from 4.5% at
the end of 2007 to 12.4% at the end of 2009,
well above the EU27 average of 9%. Between
the end of 2007 and the same period in 2009
the number in employment in the Dublin region
fell by 76,400. Nationally, the number signing
on the live register stood at 435,121 in March
2010 and Dublin accounted for 103,781 (almost
24%) of those. In 2009 there were almost 77,000
redundancies nationally, an increase of 90%
on 2008 and a staggering 202% increase on
figures for 2007. Almost 16,000 or 21% of overall
redundancies in 2009 were in the Dublin City
Council area. The problem continues. In the
first three months of 2010 there were 4,327
redundancies in the Dublin City Council area.
Through the public consultation process
the LMCE has developed exciting ideas for
creating employment and looking at growth
areas – finding alternative and creative uses
for much of the vacant retail and industrial
space, promoting the creative and cultural
industries, developing and implementing
sustainable energy policies, developing retail
and restaurant and food strategies, seeking
solutions to the financial crisis to ensure that
businesses have access to capital to start, grow
and develop their businesses, and promoting
Dublin as an International Student City.
An overview of the findings of the LMCE is
presented here under the interlinked themes
of Dublin city a Working city, a Learning city, a
Creative city, an Open city, a Global city, and a
Liveable city.
Samuel Beckett Bridge, opened December 2009, links Guild Street north of the Quays with Sir John Rogerson’s Quay on the South.

3
Dublin City, Smart City Recommendations
^^ The role of Dublin as the national
economic engine should be highlighted
in national policy and investment plans
to maximise its competitiveness and
contribution to national economic
success. (2.3.1)
^^ In an economic downturn, regeneration
areas face even greater challenges in
attracting investment and enterprise, and
continuing and enhancing regeneration
should be a priority for the City Council.
(2.3.2)
^^ The Dublin City Development Plan (2011-
2017) should have consideration to the
recommendations of the LMCE. (2.3.3)
Working City Recommendations
^^ An Employment and Skills Strategy, as
proposed by the four Local Authorities
and the Dublin Regional Authority in
the Economic Development Action
Plan for the Dublin City Region, should
be developed and implemented. The
Strategy should address such issues
as the integration of services for the
unemployed, the need for particular
responses for young people, the higher
skilled, the long-term unemployed,
people with disabilities, and those with
English language training needs. (3.14.1)
^^ There is an urgent need to provide
programmes to directly deal with
unemployment, such as internships,
executive style job clubs, second chance
education, Community Employment
Schemes (CES), apprenticeship
completion, and worksharing to respond
to the long term unemployment that
is currently sharply increasing most
especially among young males. (3.14.2)
RECOMMENDATIONS
of the Lord Mayor’s Commission on Employment
^^ There needs to be a refocusing and
prioritisation of our training and labour
market activation programmes to
respond to the new unemployment
challenges. Existing models of good
practice such as those of the Northside
Partnership, the Dublin 8 Community
Education Centre (D8CEC), the Local
Employment Service (LES) and others
should be mainstreamed. (3.14.3)
^^ Dublin City Council should lobby
Government to use the opportunities
provided by the downturn in the property
market and the over-supply of labour
in the construction industry to develop
a stimulus package of socially useful
industry to meet social needs and
enhance environmental protection e.g.
a programme for new school buildings,
community facilities, improved parks
and street planting and the delivery of
regeneration projects. (3.14.4)
^^ Dublin City Council should carry out
an analysis of the potential of local
labour clauses/initiatives where local
businesses would recruit a percentage
of their staff from within the local
community. (3.14.5)
^^ The Department of Justice, Equality and
Law Reform’s Office of the Minister for
Integration and Dublin City Council’s
Office of Integration should work with
organisations representing migrant
workers to assist in the resolution of
the many issues facing this group of
workers. (3.14.6)
^^ Dublin must have the objective of
becoming a Green City first and
foremost as well as supporting green
business:

4
Dublin City Council
^^ The employment potential from
retro-fitting/building insulation is
enormous. There is a need for
training and upskilling construction
workers in this area. The Energy
Smart Community should be rolled
out in all areas of the city.
^^ The Council should identify a Green
Hub Building which could house and
act as a networking and incubator
space for Green entrepreneurs
and researchers in Green business
initiatives. The recommendations in
the government’s report Developing
the Green Economy in Ireland
specifically the proposal for Green
Zones and a Green Irish Financial
Services Centre (IFSC) cluster should
be implemented.
^^ The City Council should facilitate
the development of an electric car
infrastructure in Dublin city. (3.14.7)
^^ Dublin City Council should develop
and implement a new Retail Strategy
to protect and promote the retail core
of the city centre and prioritise the
enhancement of the retail shopping core
of the city. (3.14.8)
^^ Consideration should be given to
reviewing the car parking standards
for food retailing to include a specific
standard for supermarkets. (3.14.9)
^^ The great potential of urban markets
should be recognised and supported.
The current review of the Casual
Trading Bye-Laws should provide the
opportunity to explore and develop
the employment potential from casual
trading. There is also a need to review
the Casual Trading Act 1995. (3.14.10)
^^ Dublin City Council in consultation with
the stakeholders should develop a policy
to realise the potential of the restaurant/
deli sector in the city. Moreover,
consideration should be given to the
development of a food tourism strategy
by the relevant stakeholders within the
food/tourism sectors. (3.14.11)
^^ The tourism potential of the city should
continue to be developed with a special
emphasis on the Irish diaspora and also
the potential markets in Asia and the
Middle East. (3.14.12)
^^ The great potential of the city with its
concentration of hospitals and medical
schools in delivering on national
objectives for the life sciences and health
sector should be developed in national
policy. (3.14.13)
^^ The various national and city
stakeholders should work together to
ensure that the Financial Services Centre
remains internationally competitive with
an enhanced international reputation and
brand. (3.14.14)
^^ An Enterprise Forum for the Dublin
region should be established by the
Dublin Regional Authority and relevant
stakeholders. Such a forum should
consider the needs of micro-businesses.
(3.14.15)
^^ There is a need to realise the great
potential of social entrepreneurship
to the success of the city. To this end
Dublin City Council should develop
policies and strategies to encourage
and assist that sector. The City Council
should also facilitate the establishment of
a hub for social entrepreneurs. (3.14.16)
^^ On the issue of finance for new
enterprise, the LMCE/Dublin City
Council is working with the major banks
and other key players to develop a
support package for new business start-
ups in Dublin and this work should be
continued. (3.14.17)
^^ Dublin City Council should work with the
Government to seek EU authorisation for
the creation of Urban Tax Free Zones in
Dublin where small and micro enterprise

5
starting up new business activities are
eligible for a range of tax exemptions.
(3.14.18)
^^ Dublin City Council should identify and
develop projects suitable for funding
under the Joint European Support for
Sustainable Investment in City Area
(JESSICA) Funds. (3.14.19)
Learning City Recommendations
^^ As a learning city there is a need to
reform the curriculum to meet the needs
of the smart/knowledge economy.
Positive action is required to encourage
more take-up of maths and science
subjects. (4.7.1)
^^ The serious problems of educational
disadvantage in the city such as early
school leaving, literacy problems and
poor levels of participation in third level
education within certain geographic
and socio-economic groups needs to
be addressed. Dublin City Council as
a local authority can make significant
interventions in tackling poor educational
attainment through the work of its
libraries and sports development
officers, by supporting homework and
breakfast clubs and also by the provision
of education/community facilities
and programmes in social housing
complexes. (4.7.2)
^^ A Dublin Literacy and Numeracy
Partnership should be established to
include Dublin City Council, CDVEC,
FÁS, NALA, partnership companies,
community providers, employer and
trade union representatives as well as
other stakeholders. (4.7.3)
^^ The potential for libraries to be used
as local resource centres for people
who are unemployed, and looking for
information on local jobs, training and CV
or job-seeking advice should be further
developed. The Library Service provides
three Youth Zones, which offer internet
access and facilities to encourage
young people to develop skills and
use the computers for a wide range of
purposes such as video creation, music
composition and digital photography.
These initiatives should be developed
throughout the city. (4.7.4)
^^ Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) courses
are particularly valuable in a rapidly
changing economic climate where new
skills are required. The number of places
on PLC courses should be increased
in an effort to incentivise young school
leavers to continue their education.
(4.7.5)
^^ The benefits of Employee Support
Programmes, which seek to upskill staff
and develop their literacy and numeracy
skills, should be widely disseminated to
employer organisations and employers
throughout the city. These programmes
should continue to be supported by
State agencies. (4.7.6)
^^ At present there is no structure in place
that facilitates collaboration between
adult education providers in Dublin city.
Mechanisms are needed at local level
in order to avoid duplication of course
provision and ensure referral between
agencies, so that effective use is made
of scarce resources. (4.7.7)
^^ The web-based portal on dublin.ie which
includes information on education,
training courses and adult education
providers for those wishing to return to
education should be enhanced. (4.7.8)
^^ The development of outreach centres,
which link up to third level institutions,
and facilitate distance or online learning
should be explored. (4.7.9)
^^ The unified campus for the DIT at
Grangegorman is central to the
development of the third level sector in
Dublin. The Government’s decision to
approve this project should be made
without delay. (4.7.10)

6
Dublin City Council
^^ There is a great opportunity to
encourage further indigenous and
foreign investment in third level colleges.
Such investment would also help to
attract international students. (4.7.11)
Creative City Recommendations
^^ The promotion and development of the
Creative and Cultural Industries offers
significant potential for job creation.
Dublin City Council should seek the
implementation of the recommendations
of the LMCE Cultural and Creative
Industries Innovation in Dublin
Workshop held on 19th January 2010.
(5.8.1)
^^ A Creative Industries Hub should be
created where existing businesses,
creative talent, academia and support
services can meet, discuss, generate
ideas, solve problems and avail of
entrepreneurial opportunities. (5.8.2)
^^ The recommendation of the Global
Irish Economic Forum in Farmleigh
(September 2009), for the establishment
of a University of the Arts in Dublin
should be further explored. (5.8.3)
^^ The possibility of having a residency for
renowned international film directors as
recommended by the Screen Directors
Guild should be investigated. A Task
Force drawn from the members of
the Film Dublin Partnership should be
established to examine and implement a
range of potential new initiatives. (5.8.4)
^^ The recommendations of the Cultural
Tourism Strategy (Dublin Tourism) should
be implemented. The engagement
of the national cultural institutions
within a city and indeed a city district
context is central to this strategy while
acknowledging their broader national
role. (5.8.5)
^^ There is a need for better sharing
and dissemination of information on
citywide events between the relevant
organisations. An enhanced Dublin
Events Guide should be established
on www.dublin.ie to enable tourist and
people living and working in the city
access this information more easily.
(5.8.6)
^^ Dublin City Council should establish a
Committee to oversee the cities involved
in the events marking the centenary
commemorations of the birth of modern
Irish democracy, from the lock-out
in 1913 to the end of the civil war.
This Committee should liaise with the
National Commemoration Committee
to maximise the heritage and cultural
tourism potential of the centenary
celebrations. (5.8.7)
^^ There is a need to bring the arts,
science, public and commercial sectors
together in further dialogue to open up
new possibilities and create innovation.
(5.8.8)
^^ Dublin City Council should implement
an initiative similar to the ‘Creative
Limerick’ project operated by Limerick
City Council which identifies vacant
properties, their uses and opportunities.
A pilot in the North Inner City should be
commenced as soon as possible. (5.8.9)
Open City Recommendations
^^ Cities are crucibles of Innovation and
Dublin has a central role in delivering
on the national goal of Ireland as a
Global Innovation Hub, which should
be supported in national policy and
investment programmes. (6.7.1)
^^ The role of the Creative Dublin Alliance in
delivering the innovation agenda should
be developed and enhanced. (6.7.2)

7
^^ Consideration should be given to
establishing an Innovation Award as part
of Innovation Week. (6.7.3)
^^ To facilitate and enable Dublin to be
an Open City, the city and National
Government must provide resources
and support to:
^^ Build and develop international links
especially through initiatives such as
Open Cities Global
^^ To provide an effective intercultural
support programme that supports
the welcome and integration of new
communities into the city. (6.7.4)
^^ Dublin is a city of opportunities for
all: the competitive advantages and
economic benefits of diversity and
equality should be further developed in
economic policies. (6.7.5)
Global City Recommendations
^^ Dublin requires continuing major
investment to provide world-class
infrastructure to enable it to compete
with other city regions throughout the
world. (7.8.1)
^^ The Dublin City Development Plan
(2011-2017) should facilitate the provision
of the type of office development to
meet the requirements of the Industrial
Development Agency (IDA) promoting
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in
companies who want to locate their
European or Europe, Middle East, Africa
(EMEA) or global Headquarters in Dublin,
and also to meet the requirements of
indigenous firms for their Headquarters.
(7.8.2)
^^ The opening of the Convention Centre
Dublin provides a great opportunity to
market the city globally and an action
plan should be prepared in consultation
with the stakeholders that would
optimise the benefits of the Centre.
(7.8.3)
^^ Dublin City Council should engage with
COMREG to develop a universal service
obligation in the city for broadband.
Moreover, the provision of broadband
should be a planning requirement
for developments in the city so that
broadband is classed as an essential
utility. Dublin is competing with other
major cities and targets for 100Mbps
broadband should be put in place. (7.8.4)
^^ Attracting international students has
great potential and we need a City
Strategy to optimise benefits for the city
and for students. This must involve all
the stakeholders such as the education
providers, immigration authorities, and
student bodies. Dublin City Council
could be a broker to facilitate this
collaboration. Dublin City Council
should seek the implementation of the
recommendations of the Workshop held
by the LMCE on 18th January 2010.
(7.8.5)
^^ Dublin City Council should prepare plans
to optimise the benefits to the City of
international achievement such as the
city being designated European City of
Science 2012 and hosting the 2010-11
UEFA Europa League Final. (7.8.6)
^^ Dublin City Council should prepare a bid
to be designated a World Design Capital
2014. (7.8.7)
^^ There should be more formal links
established with the Diplomatic Corps
on cultural events. (7.8.8)
Liveable City Recommendations
^^ A liveable city, that is a safe, clean, green
and cultured city, offers key competitive
advantages for tourism, and foreign
direct investment (FDI). Improvements
in these areas could have significant
job creation potential. The significance
of the interdependence of economic,
social and urban policies and objectives

8
Dublin City Council
cannot be understated and underpins
the case for renewed investment in Local
Authority services. (8.7.1)
^^ Asset based community development
should underpin and be the focus
of a more integrated community
development service that combines
the resources of Dublin City Council,
State and Education agencies and
local communities/Non-Governmental
Organisations (NGOs). (8.7.2)
^^ Sustainable and good urban design
plays a significant role in determining
the quality of life in the city. Dublin City
Council initiatives such as Designing
Dublin on the North Fringe should be
replicated in other parts of the city. The
learning and processes developed from
such projects should be applied across
the city. (8.7.3)
^^ Dublin City Council should promote
and develop the concept of community
gardens and allotments. Consideration
should be given to the development of a
City Farm and the further development
of farmers markets throughout the City.
(8.7.4)
^^ The designation of Dublin as the
European Capital of Sport for 2010
gives the city the opportunity to
showcase its activities and to celebrate
its achievements as a sporting capital.
Sports development programmes such
as those run by Dublin City Council,
the FAI and FÁS which provide sports
trainers/referees should be expanded
throughout the city and encompass
more sporting organisations. (8.7.5)
^^ Dublin’s two new stadia, Croke Park
and the Aviva Stadium offer new
opportunities to market the city as an
exciting sporting centre. (8.7.6)
^^ Dublin city needs to maximise and
develop the employment potential of
pre-Olympic Training Centres (e.g. UCD,
National Aquatic Centre) for the 2012
London Olympics. (8.7.7)
^^ Dublin City Council should develop an
integrated plan for the city as a sports
and leisure centre of global excellence.
Such a plan should include a Dublin
Bay Amenity Plan focusing on the use
of Dublin Bay for water sports that are
universally accessible and a Mountain
and River Plan to promote the use of
mountains, rivers and canals for sport
and recreation. (8.7.8)
^^ Government funding should be made
available to Dublin City Council to
enhance and maintain the network
of City Council leisure and creation
facilities. In addition, Dublin City Council
should develop a more market led
approach to marketing and creatively
developing the range of uses of the
facilities so that revenue flows would
improve. (8.7.9)
^^ The role of volunteering and voluntary
organisations should continue to be
recognised and supported by Dublin
City Council and other agencies. 2011
is designated European Year of the
Volunteer and Dublin City Council
should support and develop projects
with voluntary organisations to promote,
recognise, facilitate and support
volunteering throughout the year. (8.7.10)

9
1. Introduction
Our city is what it is
because our citizens
are what they are!
- Plato
The Lord Mayor’s Commission on Employment (LMCE) was
established in September 2009 to examine ways in which the
local authority can develop policies to promote employment and
economic renewal in the city.
Against a backdrop of rising unemployment and the continuing
economic recession, the employment challenges facing the City
are unprecedented. During the period from 1995 to 2007 the
Dublin region enjoyed one of the highest rates of employment
growth across European cities and capitals. However, in 2007/8
the situation began to change radically.
The statistics are indeed dramatic.
^^ Nationally, unemployment rose from 4.6% (Q3) and 4.5% (Q4)
at the end of 2007 to 12.7% (Q3) and 12.4% (Q4) at the end of
2009, well above the EU27 average of 9%.
^^ Between 2007 and 2009 the number of employed in Dublin
dropped by 76,400.
^^ Nationally, the number signing on the live register stood at
435,121 in March 2010 and Dublin accounted for 103,781
(almost 24%) of those.
York Street Housing Scheme, opened May 2009, incorporates 66 units and innovation and
sustainable energy efficient concepts.

10
Dublin City Council
^^ In 2009 there were almost 77,000
redundancies nationally, an increase of 90%
on 2008 and a staggering 202% increase
on figures for 2007. Almost 16,000 or 21%
of overall redundancies in 2009 were in the
Dublin City Council area. Certain postcodes in
the Dublin City Council area were particularly
badly affected – Dublin 1, Dublin 2 and
Dublin 12 suffering the highest numbers of
redundancies.
^^ The problem continues. In the first
three months of 2010 there were 4,327
redundancies in the Dublin City Council area.
^^ In March there were 85,000 young people
under the age of 25 on the live register
nationally, almost one quarter of whom were in
Dublin.
^^ In Dublin, as elsewhere, educational
attainment continues to have an impact
on employment. In Q3 2009 there was an
unemployment rate of 12.4% among those
whose highest education level was upper
secondary school compared with 7% among
third level honours degree holders or higher.
Unemployment, particularly youth unemployment,
will have devastating long-term social
consequences if it is not dealt with with a degree
of urgency. With this in mind, members of the
LMCE set to work immediately to bring their
energy, ideas and experience to chart a course
for Dublin’s economic renewal.
For the past nine months the LMCE has been
engaged in a widespread public consultation.
Members of the Commission travelled the
length and breadth of the city and listened to the
human stories behind the statistics. They visited
communities devastated by unemployment
and met with unemployed construction
workers, young people who were mid-way
through apprenticeships and now had no way
of completing them, young highly skilled and
qualified engineers, architects and teachers.
They also met new graduates and those who
had limited work experience and who are now
considering emigrating. Self employed people
in micro businesses or SMEs recounted the
difficulty they experienced in accessing finance
which was crippling their businesses.
Many of the people consulted relayed their
experiences and stated how, since losing their
job, they felt that they had lost their sense of
identity and their sense of self-worth. They
struggled to pay their normal household bills
and still many of those people feared paying
the ultimate price of losing their home if they
couldn’t pay the mortgage. On a more positive
note the LMCE heard from people whose focus
has shifted from having a job to doing work that
makes a positive contribution to a changing
society.
The report of the LMCE makes proposals
on how economic renewal and employment
growth in the city can be better promoted
by a range of agencies including Dublin City
Council. The report will help inform the policies
of the new Dublin City Development Plan
(2011-2017) and The Economic Development
Action Plan for the Dublin City Region. It will
also contribute to the work of the Strategic
Policy Committees of Dublin City Council.
Moreover, the report is intended to feed into
the development of policy at regional, national
and EU level so that the work of the LMCE can
be sustained into the future. In this way we will
have played our part in helping to make Dublin
“the jewel in the crown of European Cities”.
Dublin City Manager John Tierney and Lord Mayor Cllr. Emer Costello
at the opening of the Samuel Beckett Bridge.

11
2.1 Dublin as the National Economic Engine
There is a growing understanding and consensus, internationally
and nationally, that cities and city governance, including planning
and sustainable development policies, are increasingly critical
factors in national economic development, global competitiveness,
employment growth and prosperity.
The Economic Development Action Plan for the Dublin City Region
launched by the four Dublin Local Authorities and the Regional
Authority seeks to capitalise on the strengths and critical mass
present in the City Region. Economically vibrant city regions are
essential to the overall economic and social health of a country.
There is a growing consensus that much of the international
investment a city can attract is available only to urban regions
with populations in excess of one million. In this regard, it should
be emphasised, Dublin is competing with other cities in other
countries for investment, visitors and scarce talent.
This new thinking and consensus is evidenced in a wide range
of recent policy reports and strategies such as the Economic
Development Action Plan for the Dublin City Region, and others
from the Government, Forfás, National Competitiveness Council,
NESC1
, IDA, ESRI2
, OECD and other agencies3
. In the past, Dublin
has been the key engine of Ireland’s economic growth and it must
now be the engine to drive Ireland’s recovery.
Moreover, the Economic Development Action Plan for the Dublin
City Region highlights the need to address social cohesion and
regeneration as economic drivers. Indeed this issue has been
highlighted by the National Competitiveness Council which stated
that “social exclusion undermines competitiveness and limits the
ability of cities to achieve their potential. The Economic Action Plan
focuses on both the quality of life and competitive advantage of
Dublin in equal measures.”
2. DUBLIN CITY, SMART CITY
Vision is the art of
seeing things invisible
to others.
- Jonathan Swift
1 National Economic and Social Council (NESC), The Irish Economy in the Early 21st
Century (2008).
2 Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), Medium-Term Review 2008-2015 (2008).
3 Barker Review of Land Use Planning, UK HMSO (2006).

12
Dublin City Council
The Draft Dublin City Development Plan (2011–
2017) sets out a vision for Dublin as “A smart
city, creating real long term economic recovery”,
including “revitalising the city’s economy” as one
of its Core Strategies.
In Our Cities: Drivers of National Competitiveness
(2009), the National Competitiveness Council
(NCC) highlighted the increasingly crucial role
that cities play in enhancing competitiveness in
modern knowledge-based economies. One of its
key recommendations is that: “As Ireland’s only
city of international scale, continued investment
in Dublin is necessary to maintain and improve its
position as an internationally competitive location.
A competitive Dublin can serve to strengthen
the performance and attractiveness of other Irish
cities and provide them with opportunities that
may not be accessible otherwise.”
According to NCC Chairman, Dr Don Thornhill:
“The challenge here is not the redistribution of
resources between Dublin and the rest of the
country, rather of enhancing the competitive
advantages of Dublin and other major urban
centres as drivers of overall national prosperity
and contributors to social cohesion and
wellbeing. As a society, we have in the past
tended to view cities as mere necessities of the
modern world. It is time for us to embrace our
cities as drivers of positive economic, social and
cultural change.”
Launching the NCC report, Minister for
Communications, Energy and Natural Resources,
Eamon Ryan, TD, said “There are a number
of factors working in our cities’ favour. Dublin
City is home to young, educated, multicultural
populations; internationally acclaimed educational
centres, and financial districts that continue to
attract multinational investment. Now more than
ever is the time to focus investment on improving
the infrastructure, planning and vibrancy of our
cities. This will guarantee continued success in
the future.”
2.2 City Competitiveness and Change
The National Competitiveness Council
has identified four cornerstones of City
competitiveness;
^^ Enterprise
^^ Connectivity
^^ Sustainability
^^ Attractiveness and inclusiveness
The Economic Development Action Plan for
the Dublin City Region also sets out a strategic
framework:
^^ Developing strong city leadership;
^^ Creating a vibrant urban place; and
^^ Nurturing, attracting and retaining creative
people.
Cities must respond to continuing radical change
according to the Organisation for Economic
Co-operation and Development (OECD) study,
Competitive Cities in the Global Economy, (2006).
The economies of metro-regions must constantly
reinvent themselves and respond quickly and
effectively to problems in relation to the enhanced
mobility of capital, skilled labour and technology
innovation. If such response is inadequate or too
slow in the face of such new challenges, Dublin
will be by-passed, leaving declining sectors and
communities behind.
In an economic downturn, regeneration areas
face even greater challenges in attracting
investment and enterprise and continuing and
enhancing regeneration is a priority for the Dublin
City Development Plan 2011-2017.
2.3 Recommendations
2.3.1 The role of Dublin as the national
economic engine should be highlighted
in national policy and investment plans
to maximise its competitiveness and
contribution to national economic
success.
2.3.2 In an economic downturn, regeneration
areas face even greater challenges in
attracting investment and enterprise, and
continuing and enhancing regeneration
should be a priority for the City Council.
2.3.3 The Dublin City Development Plan (2011-
2017) should have consideration to the
recommendations of the LMCE.

13
A Working City is one where everyone can aspire to fulfilling and
properly paid work; where if people are unemployed they will
have access to high quality training and skills development as
well as work experience opportunities. A city of enterprise and
entrepreneurs including social entrepreneurs.
3.1 Employment and Unemployment
From 2007 to 2009 the net loss of employment in the city
region was 76,400 jobs. There are now approximately 100,000
unemployed people in the city region. A substantial component
of employment loss in manufacturing and construction sectors is
likely to be structural (i.e. may not return with economic upswing).
Evidence from previous crises shows that there is a strong
tendency for high levels of unemployment, and particularly long-
term unemployment, to persist following shocks to the labour
market. Thus there is a need to protect existing jobs and prevent
the drift into long-term unemployment.
According to the Dublin Employment Pact, which carried out
research on behalf of the Dublin Regional Authority into profiling
unemployment trends in the city, it is the lower qualified and less
skilled who have disproportionately experienced unemployment
although there is now a significant number of highly educated and
skilled unemployed people.4
3. WORKING CITY
Dublin rapidly
becoming the Internet
capital of Europe.
- www.siliconrepublic.com
(01.04.2010)
4 Towards an Employment and Skills Strategy for the Dublin City Region,
Dublin Regional Authority Dublin Employment Pact.

14
Dublin City Council
Dublin Port: January – March 2010: Throughput rose by 7.9%, exports increased by 14.6%.
Nearly a third of unemployed people are under
25 years of age. This could pose a major threat
to social cohesion and an integrated and “happy”
city. It is therefore essential that strategies be
implemented to ensure that young people who
cannot find work remain engaged in socially
useful activity – community employment, work
experiences, education and training.
The sheer scale of unemployment, particularly
among young people, means that we cannot
rely on enterprise alone to meet the challenge.
For this reason wide-scale activation initiatives
recommended in so many submissions to the
LMCE are required. Moreover, there is a need to
maintain a focus on the long-term unemployed in
terms of training for the labour market.
3.2 Employment and Skills Strategy
There is a wide range of reports from
Government, Forfás, IDA, Enterprise Ireland, the
National Competitiveness Council and others on
what policy changes are necessary and what
actions we need to take to return to economic
and employment growth. Jobs and Growth
(DETE, 2010) is a good overview of the various
Governmental policy initiatives and actions.
Submissions to the LMCE also set out similar
actions.
The Dublin Regional Authority (DRA) in
association with the Dublin Employment Pact
(DEP) recently completed a detailed and
comprehensive report, Towards an Employment
and Skills Strategy for the Dublin City Region
(January 2010, WRC Consultants). Among the
recommendations are that an employment and
skills strategy should be driven by the local
authorities, mobilising all relevant government
and non-government agencies to ensure
commitment and delivery, possibly through
signing a Framework Agreement modelled on
the Dublin Employment Pact Charter of 2001 or
the more recent Barcelona Agreement for Quality
Employment. By way of building on this report,
the DRA is undertaking to provide a sharper
focus on specific areas of employment potential.

15
The Review of Labour Market Programmes
(2010) was commissioned by the Department
of Enterprise Trade and Employment and
undertaken by Forfás. One of the key findings
was that the most effective programmes for the
unemployed were those training programmes
closest to the labour market and with employer
involvement. The main challenges for Ireland over
the period up to 2015 will be to:
^^ Raise skills;
^^ Provide work experience placements for
young people;
^^ Improve access to training, education and
employment service provision for groups most
affected by unemployment;
^^ Ensure that any disincentives in the interaction
between the social welfare payment system
and moving into employment are removed.
FÁS and ESRI have produced a report
Occupational Employment Forecasts 2010-2015,
and the expectation is that occupations involving
professionals will grow rapidly, as will persons
employed in sales and personal services.
It is therefore critically important to ensure the
provision of clear pathways back into education
and training for early school leavers. All forecasts
on future employment in Ireland point to an
increasing proportion of higher skilled jobs, and
a static or even declining proportion of unskilled
jobs. Low skilled workers becoming unemployed
will find it ever more difficult to secure
employment in the future. (See fig. 3.2 overleaf).
3.3 Preventing Unemployment
Many of the submissions to the LMCE referred to
the need to make training/reskilling and upskilling
interventions to prevent unemployment. Initiatives
such as expanding the redundant apprenticeship
programme would provide the opportunity
for redundant apprentices to complete their
apprenticeship and would contribute to reducing
unemployment and maintaining skills levels
among young men in particular. This is an
area where a city-wide approach encouraging
employers to take in apprentices, would
contribute to preventing unemployment and
maintain a good skills base.
Moreover, the need for greater integration of
employment, education, training and social
welfare services and the removal of barriers that
prevent the transition of unemployed people
from social welfare into education, training and
work was also highlighted in many submissions.
The need for creative and flexible solutions to
identify alternative pathways through education
and training would enable unemployed people
progress at their own level. The Irish National
Organisation of the Unemployed (INOU)
experiential based research reports Developing
Policy through Good Practice and Linking
Education and Training to Employment, 2008
highlight many of the practical issues facing
unemployed people.
It is clear that there is considerable re-thinking
and innovation amongst the various agencies
with responsibility for issues of employment and
unemployment.
One of the predominant themes emerging
through the work of the LMCE was a general
recognition that many of the new unemployed
have significant qualifications and experience and
have particular needs and potential.
A key recommendation of the LMCE is that there
should be funding for executive-style jobs clubs.
‘Internship’ initiatives could provide valuable
experience and Dublin City Council could lead in this.
Employees in Google’s Dublin Office.

16
Dublin City Council
CASE STUDY:
Dublin 8 Community Education Centre
Dublin 8 Community Education Centre is
based in the Liberties area in Dublin’s inner
city. The Community Education Centre offers a
variety of courses – many of which are FETAC
accredited. The Centre is situated close to the
Local Employment Service (LES). Co-ordinators
recognised the potential for their services to
complement each other, and developed a
proposal for a collaborative local initiative with
the support of the local Jobs Facilitator, which
was submitted to the Department of Social
and Family Affairs. The proposal was based on
the profiles and needs of particular individuals
using both services.
In practice the collaboration involved both
organisations referring people to each other’s
services where appropriate. For example where
clients identified a need for IT and computer
skills, mediators within the LES referred them
quickly onto computer training within D8
CEC. Similarly, the CEC was able to promote
the services of the LES and refer course
participants where appropriate.
Ultimately the collaboration allowed both
organisations to combine their strengths and
offer a better service to the local community.
While an individual developed or improved
employment related skills, they were also able
to easily access additional supports from one-
to-one mediation to accredited modules on
personal effectiveness, both of which were of
benefit in terms of planning future employment
or education options. The collaboration
resulted in a holistic approach to the delivery
of education for adults which had the added
benefit of accreditation.
-20 -10 0 10 20 30
Agriculture
Unskilled
Operatives, Transport
Skilled / Craft
Clerical
Other Services
Sales
Professionals, Managers
Caring
Associate Professionals
Forecast on Future Employment Demands
Employment % Change 2005 - 2012
Source: FÁS
Figure 3.2

17
CASE STUDY: Northside Partnership
The Northside Partnership developed
the innovative “Making Change Happen”
programme in response to the rapidly growing
numbers of unemployed seeking support.
This is a very successful and cost effective
initiative. This and other innovative responses to
the severe unemployment problems should be
considered for mainstreaming.
Making Change Happen
Through Personal and Technical Development
Enterprise
Hub
Job
Sourcing
Hub
Personal
Effectiveness
Hub
Skills
Growth
Hub
CHOICES
Introductory
Week
CORE
Stress Management
Coping Techniques
Communication Skills
Motivation
Positive
Thinking
Assertiveness
CV Preparation
Peer Networking
Opportunities
Interview Skills
Action Planning
Entrepreneurship
Sales MarketingWork as a
Contractor
Taxation
Legislation
Information
Technology
Selling Skills
Customer
Service
Financial
Management
Merchandising Core
Optional
3.4 Marginalised Workers
In an economic downturn particular groups of
workers with particular needs, such as people
with disabilities or migrant workers, can find
themselves further marginalised with little
prospect of finding employment. According to a
recent ILO report the unemployment rate among
workers with disabilities tends to be at least twice
or three times that of other workers. For disabled
women the statistics are even worse. Although
new technology is enabling more people with
disabilities to work, discrimination by employers
and employees still exists.

18
Dublin City Council
Workway, a joint Irish Business and Employers’
Confederation (IBEC) and Irish Congress of
Trade Unions (ICTU) initiative was established
to promote the employment of people with
disabilities involving unions, employers, disabled
persons, service providers and Government
agencies. This initiative highlighted the need
for interagency co-operation in overcoming
the challenges to employment for people with
disabilities. Further information is available from
www.workway.ie.
Many newly unemployed people from other
countries came to Dublin to work, for example,
in construction where their limited knowledge of
English was previously not a drawback. There
is now an urgent need to offer them the level of
English they need to re-enter the workforce and
contribute to the economy.
Moreover, migrant workers, especially those
in poorly regulated employment sectors, are
vulnerable to exploitation and discrimination.
Many migrant workers are involved in essential
work in the city, particularly in the tourism
sector, without which the city would not function
effectively.
The Office of the Minister for Integration and
Dublin City Council’s Office of Integration
should continue to work with migrant workers
organisations to assist in the resolution of the
many issues facing such workers. In addition,
the strict application of employment equality
legislation (Employment Equality Act 1998 and
Equal Status Act 200) is essential and needs
constant monitoring.
3.5 Green Economy/Clean Technology
Rising energy prices, growing awareness of
the consequences of climate change and
the increased demand for greener and more
environmentally sustainable goods and services
has generated a major demand worldwide for
technologies that allow goods and services to be
produced in a sustainable manner that reduces
the use of increasingly expensive fossil fuel based
energy. This dynamic is spawning a rapidly
growing business segment in Clean Technology.
In response to fast changing corporate and
consumer needs the IDA has established a
dedicated Clean Technology Division aimed at
winning new investments and technologies for
Ireland in the broad Clean Technology arena. The
green economy in Ireland is already worth €2.8bn
and is likely to grow5
.
Dublin City Council has worked with the City of
Dublin Energy Management Agency (CODEMA)
in developing a Sustainable Energy Action Plan
which shows how over the next twenty years,
the introduction of carbon neutral and low-
energy buildings, improvements in information
technology and the development of a low-carbon
transport system could lead to the city reducing
its carbon emissions by 50 per cent. The creation
of an energy-smart city will also present huge
opportunities for renewal and job creation.
Sustainable renovation and retrofitting will be
key factors in stimulating future job growth. For
example, Codema has set up the Energy Smart
Community scheme which allows homeowners
to join together in clusters to improve the energy
performance of their homes. The scheme also
enables contractors to join an expert panel to
tender for these works.
5 http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/Press+Releases/Government+announces+task+force+on+Green+Economy.html.

19
Dublin City Council – Partners in Green
European Projects
European projects provide an ideal vehicle
for training and development in this area.
Two exciting projects in this field include the
Leonardo da Vinci Project with Tipperary
Institute of Technology and the Codema
GreenNov Project.
The Lord Mayor’s Commission on
Employment successfully joined forces with
Tipperary Institute in a funding application
for a European Project under the Lifelong
Learning, Leonardo Da Vinci (People in the
Labour Market) Programme to send 20
people from Dublin on a two week placement
programme on Energy Efficiency in Buildings.
The programme is hosted by KOMZET
Germany, Centre of Vocational Excellence in
Energy Efficiency in Buildings and places a
special emphasis on timber construction. The
training provided will equip participants with
relevant and up to date skills and enable them
to compete for jobs in the Green Technology
sector.
GREENOV offers training and support
services to innovative SMEs and will help local
contractors and suppliers to bid successfully
on tenders for energy refurbishment works
that are now open to competition from
abroad.
Fr Collins Park opened as Ireland’s first wholly urban sustainable park last year. Five 50 kilowatt wind turbines provide electricity for the park’s sport
facilities, public lighting and water aeration. This brings the portion of renewable energy for the Council’s own use to 19%.
6 Dublin Tourism Statistics.
3.6 Tourism
The tourism sector is an essential component of
the Dublin economy and contributes in a unique
and dynamic way to the city’s cultural mix and
vibrancy. There needs to be continued concerted
action to renew the Dublin tourism ‘product’ and
to ensure value for money.
The number of visitors to Dublin rose from 4.2
million in 2000 to 5.8 million in 2007. Overseas
tourists account for approximately 75% of the total
visitors6
. 2008 saw a slight decline in the number
of visitors to the city with a further drop of about
5% recorded in 2009.
Dublin is an ideal short holiday destination for
many Europeans and is an integral part of any
longer-stay holiday to Ireland.
While the traditional markets in Britain, mainland
Europe and North America continue to
account for the bulk of tourism figures, there is
considerable tourism potential from the rapidly
developing countries particularly from Asia and
the Middle East.
Cultural tourism has great potential given the
concentration of cultural facilities and events
in the city (see Creative City chapter for further
details). In October 2009 Dublin Tourism
launched a Cultural Tourism Strategy which
aims to bring an additional one million visitors to
Dublin by 2015. Dublin City Council is currently
developing its own Culture Strategy (2011– 2017)

20
Dublin City Council
which will add to and complement the work
being carried out by the Dublin Tourism and the
Cultural Institutions throughout the City. The City
Council has a major role to play in ensuring that
the City makes the most of its cultural attractions
and provides an enriching, cultural and generally
pleasant experience for its visitors. (See Creative
Industries Chapter).
A number of major new projects that have
opened or will soon open that will radically
improve the attractions of the city. These include
the Convention Centre Dublin, the Aviva Stadium,
Grand Canal Theatre, O2 Arena, Croke Park, the
GAA Museum, Dublin Airport Terminal 2, and
the Glasnevin Interpretative Centre. Moreover,
international designations and events such as
the European Capital of Sport (2010), the UEFA
Europa League Final (2011) and the European
City of Science (2012) are other major attractors.
Some very simple initiatives could be undertaken
that would dramatically increase the potential
for heritage tourism in Dublin. For example the
digitisation and widespread availability of Dublin’s
genealogical records could build on “Diaspora
Tourism”. Indeed the Irish diaspora have a potential
tourist market of 80 million people. A “Homecoming
Festival” inviting the Dublin Diaspora to “come
home” and celebrate their Irish roots could carve
out a niche and repetitive market.
The Glasnevin Interpretive Centre linked to the
Botanic Gardens is an excellent example of a
major heritage centre combining with an urban
landscape to create a Dublin and international
tourist attraction. Other practical proposals
include highlighting some of Dublin’s award
winning landscapes with a series of scheduled
tours and examining the tourism potential of
Dublin’s designed landscapes.
3.7 Retail and Restaurants
The City Centre retail core is facing significant
challenges. The city centre retailers are at the
heart of the City and the City Council must act to
protect the retail core of the City Centre. There is
a need for a review of strategy to ensure that the
City Centre retail core succeeds and prospers.
The fall in land prices presents an opportunity for
food retailers to expand in Dublin both in the inner
city and in local village centres such as Finglas
and Drimnagh for example. The LMCE received
several submissions from the Supermarket
Sector recommending that car parking standards
for food retailing should be reviewed with
particular reference to include a specific standard
for supermarkets.
Restaurants and cafes are major employers and
contribute €2 billion to the Irish economy each
year. There is a need for a food tourism strategy.
The Dublin City Development Plan 2011-2017
should take a positive view of the role of cafes
and restaurants and encourage their clustering
where appropriate.
The potential of urban markets should be
recognised and encouraged. A number of
submissions highlighted the employment
potential of casual trading and called for a flexible
approach in the review of the current by-laws to
maximise that potential. In addition, there is also a
need to review the Casual Trading Act, 1995.
3.8 Life Sciences and Health Sector
The Life Sciences and Health sector has real
prospects for future growth, according to a report
published by Forfás Health Life Sciences in
Ireland – An Enterprise Outlook (2010). The sector
in Ireland currently employs in excess of 52,000
people in over 350 enterprises. It contributes
almost 30% towards total exports which were
valued at €44.4 billion in 2008. This sector is
particularly important for Dublin (with its many
national hospitals and University medical schools)
and Dublin is critical to achievement of national
goals for this sector. The considerable investment
committed for major improvements in our
hospitals (for example, the Mater and St. James’s)
significantly enhances this potential.
dublinbikes scheme.

21
3.9 Dublin Financial Services Have a Bright Future
“The IFSC has remained a bright spot in
employment for the city in 2009 by maintaining
its total jobs figure from 2008” according to
John Tierney, Dublin City Manager, in a foreword
to a recent Dublin City Council’s report Global
Financial Centres Index 7; A commentary on
Dublin’s position (Z/Yen consultants). The
report finds that Dublin is still a globally well-
connected centre with strong potential for future
growth. However, we cannot be complacent
as competition from Asian and Middle Eastern
Centres is strong.
The international financial services industry if
properly nurtured has real potential over the
medium term to contribute significantly to the
growth of output and employment for the city and
national economy. To achieve this we need to
ensure that national and city policymakers work
together with the IFSC to ensure that the business
environment, regulation and infrastructure
are internationally competitive. We also need
to promote Dublin and Ireland’s international
reputation and brand.
3.10 Entrepreneurship
Ireland has a very high rate of entrepreneurial
activity compared to other countries and
this strength is a great asset. Developing an
Enterprise Strategy for the Dublin City Region
is a 2009 report by Paula Fitzsimons for the
Dublin Regional Authority. As part of the
Economic Development Action Plan for the
Dublin City Region work is now progressing to
establish an Enterprise Forum that would also
address the issues of finance for enterprise.
Such an Enterprise Forum should involve the
state agencies charged with enterprise and job
creation, the local authorities, and all chambers
of commerce in the region. It should also involve
the innovation/incubator units in the universities/
colleges/community.
It should produce an action plan with six months
for the fostering of new business, the funding
of business start-ups, the commercialization
of research, and the development of local and
global markets for existing business. The Forum
should also look at proposals on employment
skills training within business.
We must continue to encourage entrepreneurship
and promote Dublin/Ireland as a place where
creativity and innovation are everyday activities.
It has been highlighted that the micro, small and
medium enterprise sector remains the largest
type of business unit within the Dublin area.
There is a need to encourage entrepreneurship
in the public sector where there needs to be a
greater emphasis and prioritisation in finding new
ways to do more with less. Entrepreneurship
among people who have lost their jobs must be
encouraged. The development of networks of
entrepreneurs was a common thread running
through submissions and presentations to the
LMCE. Challenges and Promise for Immigrant
Entrepreneurship in Dublin is a 2009 report
by Jack Pinowski for Dublin City Council.
The potential for immigrant entrepreneurs
is recognised and supported by Dublin City
Council.
3.11 Social Entrepreneurs
Social entrepreneurs and social enterprise
can have a major role to play in improving the
economy and quality of life in the city. In a
presentation to the LMCE, Social Entrepreneurs
Ireland (www.socialentrepreneurs.ie) set out the
great social and economic benefits of this sector.
The estimated expenditure from this sector in
Ireland is €4.4 billion (4% of GNP). It engages
40,000 full-time staff, 14,750 part-time staff and
1,400,000 volunteers. Social entrepreneurs are
the high potential start-ups of the not for profit
sector: they are creative, innovative and dynamic
and provide rapid growth organisations and
initiatives.
Irish Financial Services Centre.

22
Dublin City Council
The Social Enterprise Task Force convened
by the DEP and Clann Credo (The Social
Investment Fund) and chaired by Maurice Healy
is soon to publish its report which will set out
the possibilities of this sector and its potential to
respond to current severe challenges. Dublin City
should facilitate the establishment of a hub for
social entrepreneurs.
3.12 Finance
One of the principal inhibitions to business
development identified in the city and country as
a whole is the shortage of credit and difficulties
in obtaining finance. Access to finance and other
important supports are the crucial element to
entrepreneurs considering starting a business
today. Dublin City Council should work with the
major banks and other key players to develop a
support package for new business start-ups in
Dublin. This support package should support
new start-up business in a holistic and targeted
way and have the following benefits:
^^ It would raise both awareness and the profile
of the city as a prime business location (the
geographical boundaries of the fund to be
worked out).
^^ It would be a positive confidence-building
measure in a sorely bruised sector and would
support the current marketing campaigns that
Dublin is ‘open for business’.
^^ The applications to the fund would be routed
through a dedicated channel with specific
fund criteria.
^^ It would seek out high-calibre business plans
and people and be dedicated to the new
business sector.
^^ It would signal particular support for
entrepreneurs who have business ideas in
potential growth areas such as in Green
Business and the Creative Industries.
^^ The Creative Dublin Alliance and the Economic
Development Action Plan for the Dublin City
Region are ideal structures to endorse and
support this initiative.
^^ It would link in with the advice and expertise of
the Enterprise Boards in the Region.
3.13 European Initiatives
Urban Tax Free Zones
The European Commission has authorised,
under EC Treaty state aid rules, the creation of
urban tax-free zones in certain parts of Italy.
The aim of the measure is to encourage the
regeneration of particularly deprived areas. In
the 22 areas classed as urban tax-free zones,
small and micro-enterprises starting up new
business activity will be eligible for a range of tax
exemptions.
Regeneration areas of Dublin should be
considered for Urban Tax Free Zone status which
would help to stimulate both private and public
investment in these deprived areas and sites
which would assist urban renewal.
Urban Development Funds
The Joint European Support for Sustainable
Investment in City Areas (JESSICA), is an initiative
developed by the European Commission and the
European Investment Bank, in collaboration with
the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB).
Under new procedures, Member States are
being given the option of using some of their EU
grant funding, their so-called Structural Funds, to
make repayable investments in projects forming
part of an integrated plan for sustainable urban
development.
Seán O’Casey Bridge joins City Quay in the Grand Canal Docks area to
North Wall Quay and the IFSC.

23
These investments, which may take the form of
equity, loans and/or guarantees, are delivered to
projects via Urban Development Funds and, if
required, Holding Funds. The LMCE recommends
that this avenue is further explored and projects
identified.
EU Microfinance Facility
In response to the economic crisis, the European
Union has established a €100 million facility for
employment creation and social inclusion. The
facility is aimed at giving unemployed people the
chance of a new start and opening the way to
entrepreneurship for persons who find it difficult
or impossible to gain access to the conventional
credit market, through microcredits of up to
EUR 25,000. The facility also improves access
to microfinance for micro-enterprises (those
employing fewer than 10 people and with annual
turnover not exceeding EUR 2 million), especially
those in the social economy and those employing
vulnerable or disadvantaged persons. The EUR
100 million will be spread over four years (2010-
2013) and is expected to leverage more than
EUR 500 million of credit in cooperation with
international financial institutions such as the
European Investment Bank (EIB).
Dublin City Council Business Support Unit
The City Council through the delivery of its
many key activities assists businesses on
a daily basis and has now established a
Business Support Unit (BSU) that will further
enhance this service. The unit provides
information on the range of Dublin City
Council services that are required for setting
up or growing a business. The service can be
accessed on Dublin City Council’s website
www.dublincity.ie.
The City Council’s Economic Development
Department in cooperation with the City
Enterprise Board, produced a Guide to
Enterprise in Dublin City. The Guide is a
comprehensive compilation of advice and
information for those who have a business idea
and are thinking of setting up a new business
or for those who already own a business,
http://www.dcebenterpriseguide.com/.
Funding4Business
A new easy to use, icon driven web portal
that offers users the option to browse
funding information or make a funding search
customised to their specific requirements
has been developed. This free online search
facility is a gateway to information on over
480 funding opportunities available from,
European, Government, Local, Lottery
and Charitable sources. The website is
constantly being updated with new funding
opportunities. The website also provides
information on grants and funding to
community Groups, Charities, not-for –profit
organisations and the Social Enterprise
sector. http://www.funding4dublincity.ie/.
JESSICA Flow Chart

24
Dublin City Council
3.14.5 Dublin City Council should carry out
an analysis of the potential of local
labour clauses/initiatives where local
businesses would recruit a percentage
of their staff from within the local
community.
3.14.6 The Department of Justice, Equality and
Law Reform’s Office of the Minister for
Integration and Dublin City Council’s
Office of Integration should work with
organisations representing migrant
workers to assist in the resolution of
the many issues facing this group of
workers.
3.14.7 Dublin must have the objective of
becoming a Green City first and
foremost as well as supporting green
business:
^^ The employment potential from
retro-fitting/building insulation is
enormous. There is a need for
training and upskilling construction
workers in this area. The Energy
Smart Community should be rolled
out in all areas of the city.
^^ The Council should identify a Green
Hub Building which could house and
act as a networking and incubator
space for Green entrepreneurs
and researchers in Green business
initiatives. The recommendations in
the government’s report Developing
the Green Economy in Ireland
specifically the proposal for Green
Zones and a Green Irish Financial
Services Centre (IFSC) cluster should
be implemented.
^^ The City Council should facilitate
the development of an electric car
infrastructure in Dublin city.
3.14.8 Dublin City Council should develop
and implement a new Retail Strategy
to protect and promote the retail core
of the city centre and prioritise the
enhancement of the retail shopping core
of the city.
3.14 Recommendations
3.14.1 An Employment and Skills Strategy, as
proposed by the four Local Authorities
and the Dublin Regional Authority in
the Economic Development Action
Plan for the Dublin City Region, should
be developed and implemented. The
Strategy should address such issues
as the integration of services for the
unemployed, the need for particular
responses for young people, the higher
skilled, the long-term unemployed,
people with disabilities, and those with
English language training needs.
3.14.2 There is an urgent need to provide
programmes to directly deal with
unemployment, such as internships,
executive style job clubs, second chance
education, Community Employment
Schemes (CES), apprenticeship
completion, and worksharing to respond
to the long term unemployment that
is currently sharply increasing most
especially among young males.
3.14.3 There needs to be a refocusing and
prioritisation of our training and labour
market activation programmes to
respond to the new unemployment
challenges. Existing models of good
practice such as those of the Northside
Partnership, the Dublin 8 Community
Education Centre (D8CEC), the Local
Employment Service (LES) and others
should be mainstreamed.
3.14.4 Dublin City Council should lobby
Government to use the opportunities
provided by the downturn in the property
market and the over-supply of labour
in the construction industry to develop
a stimulus package of socially useful
industry to meet social needs and
enhance environmental protection e.g.
a programme for new school buildings,
community facilities, improved parks
and street planting and the delivery of
regeneration projects.

25
3.14.9 Consideration should be given to
reviewing the car parking standards
for food retailing to include a specific
standard for supermarkets.
3.14.10 The great potential of urban markets
should be recognised and supported.
The current review of the Casual
Trading Bye-Laws should provide the
opportunity to explore and develop
the employment potential from casual
trading. There is also a need to review
the Casual Trading Act 1995.
3.14.11 Dublin City Council in consultation with
the stakeholders should develop a policy
to realise the potential of the restaurant/
deli sector in the city. Moreover,
consideration should be given to the
development of a food tourism strategy
by the relevant stakeholders within the
food/tourism sectors.
3.14.12 The tourism potential of the city should
continue to be developed with a special
emphasis on the Irish diaspora and also
the potential markets in Asia and the
Middle East.
3.14.13 The great potential of the city with its
concentration of hospitals and medical
schools in delivering on national
objectives for the life sciences and health
sector should be developed in national
policy.
3.14.14 The various national and city
stakeholders should work together to
ensure that the Financial Services Centre
remains internationally competitive with
an enhanced international reputation and
brand.
3.14.15 An Enterprise Forum for the Dublin
region should be established by the
Dublin Regional Authority and relevant
stakeholders. Such a forum should
consider the needs of micro-businesses.
3.14.16 There is a need to realise the great
potential of social entrepreneurship
to the success of the city. To this end
Dublin City Council should develop
policies and strategies to encourage
and assist that sector. The City Council
should also facilitate the establishment of
a hub for social entrepreneurs.
3.14.17 On the issue of finance for new
enterprise, the LMCE/Dublin City
Council is working with the major banks
and other key players to develop a
support package for new business start-
ups in Dublin and this work should be
continued.
3.14.18 Dublin City Council should work with the
Government to seek EU authorisation for
the creation of Urban Tax Free Zones in
Dublin where small and micro enterprise
starting up new business activities are
eligible for a range of tax exemptions.
3.14.19 Dublin City Council should identify and
develop projects suitable for funding
under the Joint European Support for
Sustainable Investment in City Area
(JESSICA) Funds.

26
Dublin City Council
Aerial photo of Grangegorman.
The 75 acre site at Grangegorman is the proposed location for an ambitious project which would provide for:
• a unified campus for the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT)
• a new primary school
• a new public library
• new health care facilities for the Health Services Executive (HSE)
• new arts, cultural, recreational and public spaces to serve the community and the city.

27
4. LEARNING CITY
A smart environment
where smart people
and smart ideas can
thrive is essential.
- Dr. Craig Barrett,
Former President and
CEO of Intel Corporation
4.1 Learning City: Education, Training and Skills
and Economic Recovery
“As knowledge and creativity increasingly become the basis of
competition, high skill levels are vitally important to economic
performance, living standards and social inclusion. Without a
worldclass education and training system Ireland will have great
difficulty in succeeding in the face of intensifying global competition
and in protecting recent increases in our living standards.” 7
A Learning city is one with excellent formal and informal
educational facilities at all levels, pre-school and primary to fourth
level, a city of equal educational opportunities for all at all stages of
life (lifelong learning), where people get second chances to return
to education; a city whose educational facilities will be recognised
worldwide; a city that reflects, evaluates the future, learns from its
successes and failures … and moves on.
4.2 Educate for Creativity: For Future Needs
“Our learners need to be flexible, adaptable, resilient and competent
if they are to participate successfully in society and be enabled as
independent learners throughout the whole of their lives. They need
to develop critical thinking skills and move away from the trend
towards rote learning. Curriculum reform must result in a more active
learning experience for the individual, promote a real understanding
within learning, and aim to embed a seed of creativity and innovation
in the learner” according to the Tánaiste and Minister for Education
and Skills, Ms. Mary Coughlan, T.D. speaking at the launch of a
consultation process on reform of the junior cycle, April 2010.
The need for reform of our educational system was reflected in
submissions to the LMCE and the question as to whether our
education system is fit for purpose for the new challenges of a
smart and knowledge economy is a moot point.
7 National Competitiveness Council Chairman, Dr. Don Thornhill launching its Statement on
Education and Training (2009).

28
Dublin City Council
Learning should develop every child’s capacity
for independent critical thinking and collaborative
problem solving.
Addressing a public meeting hosted by the
Royal Irish Academy and Dublin City Council
in the Mansion House in February 2010, Dr
Craig Barrett, former President and CEO of Intel
Corporation, stated that for Ireland to succeed
in the 21st century, being average was not good
enough and that “a smart environment where
smart people and smart ideas can thrive is
essential”. He warned that “our future relies on
a critical mass of maths and science skills” and
advised that we prioritise education in these
subjects.
4.3 Opening Out the Knowledge Economy to
Everyone: Tackling Educational Disadvantage
Our highly educated population is often quoted
as a great economic resource and competitive
advantage. However, we have major problems
of educational disadvantage amongst our young
people and older people. Indeed our 55-64
year olds are among the least educated in the
EU. Early school leaving rates at about 18% are
unacceptably high and concentrated in urban
areas. One in three pupils in schools in areas
of disadvantage has serious literacy problems.
Drop-out rates tend to be higher in schools with
a concentration of students from disadvantaged
backgrounds, according to a recent ESRI study8
.
This is a critical issue for Dublin, for educational
policy and for planning policy, because of the
significant concentrations of disadvantage in
the inner city and elsewhere and the additional
problems that such concentrations create.
Many of the submissions to the LMCE came
from inner city groups. Dublin’s inner city
unemployment increased from 14,779 in August
2008 to 22,140 in August 2009, an increase of
66.7%. The scale of disadvantage in some inner
city areas is severe: social welfare rates almost
three times the national average, an average
school leaving age of 14.5 years and only 5%
Dublin Public Libraries Youth Zone offering internet access.
CASE STUDY: Digital Inclusion
A recent report by the British Computer
Society indicated that the recession is
accelerating the digital divide in the UK and it
is likely that the situation is similar in Ireland.
The Digital Community Programme and the
Digital Hub have instigated a number projects
to tackle this issue:
The Digital Community Programme
(www.digitalcommunity.ie) initiated by
the Dublin Institute of Technology, is a
partnership of a range of agencies which
aims to tackle educational disadvantage
through ICT in Dublin’s Inner City The Dublin
Employment Pact, Fastrack to IT (FIT) and
Dublin City Council are working with over
eighty community organisations. Between
2007-2009 over 3,500 people achieved
eCert training. In addition, the Dublin Inner
City Schools Computerisation (DISC) Project
operates in 38 inner-city disadvantaged
primary and secondary schools. Dublin
City Libraries are co-operating with FÁS to
deliver an eLearning service at an initial three
locations with more planned (see http://
faslibraries.learnonline.ie)
The Digital Hub operates a comprehensive
range of community learning programmes.
One programme Elevate is a new approach to
community learning. It focuses on engaging,
exciting, and empowering both learners and
tutors. Using the very latest digital media
technology everyone becomes a publisher.
Learners are given the confidence and
knowledge to reach their potential. Tutors
are inspired to be creative in the way they
facilitate learning. Further information is
available at (www.digitlahubelevate.com).
8 No Way Back? The Dynamics of Early School Leaving, ESRI, DES and NCCA (2010).

29
attending third level. There is a requirement for a
focused, coordinated and resourced response
to the multiplicity of needs in these areas. There
is a need for a flexible model of school which
provides sufficiently attractive incentives to
retain the student in second level to the leaving
certificate.
While high skilled workers form a growing
proportion of the people becoming unemployed,
the majority (75%) have only leaving certificate
level qualifications or below (National
Qualifications Framework Levels 5-6), and a full
50% are below that level.
Participation in Higher Education (HE) has
risen steadily in Ireland since the 1960s, with
particularly dramatic increases apparent in
more recent years. The most recently published
data indicates that participation rates in HE
have now reached 55%. Yet for the most part,
such patterns mask continued social inequality
in access and entry to HE. While the overall
admission rate (to full-time study) had increased
from 44 % to 55% between 1998 and 2004,
representing improved participation rates for
all socio-economic groups, there was one
exception: the non-manual socio-economic
group. The children of those in the non-manual
socio-economic group saw a decline in their
estimated participation rate – from 29% in 1998
to between 25% and 27% in 2004, a decline
which is part of a longer-term trend in the relative
position of this group (HEA/ESRI Research). The
research shows that while finance is clearly a
barrier to participation, it is not the only barrier as
issues such as low expectation from teachers,
low self-esteem and lack of encouragement from
family and peers are also major factors. Each
of the major colleges now have Access Offices
to actively promote increased participation
from “disadvantaged” areas but there is clearly
significant work to be done in this regard.
4.4 National Qualification Framework: Pathways
Through Education
The National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ)
provides a way to compare qualifications, and
to ensure that they are quality assured and
recognised at home and abroad. The Framework
covers the entire gambit of education from school
education to PhD level.

30
Dublin City Council
The development of the National Framework
of Qualifications has provided alternative
pathways through education, in particular for
those who did not follow traditional routes
through primary, secondary and third level.
FETAC programmes are delivered by a range
of providers in diverse settings including VECs,
adult and community education and training
centres, Fáilte Ireland (CERT), FAS, BIM and
Teagasc centres, Institutes of Technology
and in the workplace. FETAC can award up
to Level 6 (advanced post leaving certificate)
and provide progression routes through to
third level programmes (Level 7 and higher).
Post Leaving Certificate courses validated by
FETAC are particularly valuable in a rapidly
changing economic climate where new skills
are required. The City of Dublin VEC (CDVEC)
provides over 300 Further Education courses
at FETAC Level 5/6 for students with Leaving
Certificate standard of education (or equivalent
qualification). Additional certification for specific
courses has been obtained from many national
and international examining and professional
bodies. For example, Ballyfermot College of
Further Education and Training offers a range of
Degree and Higher Diploma Courses in media
and animation.
The CDVEC is therefore at the heart of learning
in the City by providing educational training
courses that have strong vocational content and
that are central to relevant knowledge and skills
acquisition in a time of jobs crisis. The current
cap on the number of PLC places is having the
effect of leaving many young people with no
prospect of continuing their education.
Research carried out by the Teachers’ Union of
Ireland (TUI) shows that in 2009 more than half of
the 60,000 applications nationally were refused
because of the cap on the number of PLC
places. The cap nationally is 30,188, while the
cap on CDVEC places 7,538. The TUI research
also shows that in 2009, 6,200 students applied
for just 1,300 first year places in Ballyfermot
College leaving almost 5,000 disappointed.
PLC courses are a cost effective way of up-
skilling people. There is no economic or
educational rationale for the current cap on
places. Indeed the cost of increasing the number
of places could be offset by savings in social
welfare payments.”
4.5 Lifelong Learning/Adult Education
Lifelong learning is a key instrument for
addressing the challenges of a recession.
Investment in adult learning and education is
key for the economic development of a country.
Adult education and learning fosters sustainable
development, social inclusion, active citizens
(democracy, tolerance, active citizenship, equity,
intercultural dialogue) and also has health
benefits, particularly in older learners.
The disparate nature of the adult education
service is due to the number of stakeholders
and providers that operate without an overall
co-ordinating body. Many adult education
programmes have developed separately and
work independently of each other; this affects
the visibility and effectiveness of the service.
Mechanisms are needed at local level in order to
avoid duplication of course provision and ensure
referral between agencies, so that effective use
is made of scarce resources. For example, in
Co. Carlow an alliance of education, training
and information providers has been formed in
order to plan for the co-ordination of training and
education activities at local level.
CASE STUDY: AONTAS
The Information Referral Service of AONTAS,
The National Adult Learning Organisation,
showed an increase in demand over 2008 of
500% by the end of October with a total of
5,217 queries dealt with by the service. The
majority of these were newly unemployed
people and a staggering 67% were men.
81% of all individuals contacting the service
in 2009 year have been out of education for
more than ten years with 52% of this cohort
out of education for more than 20 years.
Adult education providers report that the
demographic of learners seeking course
has changed significantly with a significant
increase in unemployed young men with poor
literacy levels seeking their help.

31
A number of submissions to the LMCE
referred to the importance of Workplace
Basic Education (WBE) programmes. Such
programmes should be a priority for employers
and employees supported by the Workplace
Basic Education Fund (currently managed by
FÁS) and the introduction of paid learning leave
(PLL) for workers in Ireland without a NQF
Level 4 qualification. Trade Unions also provide
education and training for their members often in
conjunction with FAS and the VEC.
The Dublin Employment Pact (DEP) recently
launched an evaluation of two workplace training
projects Upskilling Vulnerable Workers in a Time
of Economic Recession. According to the DEP
“There is no logic to cutting programmes for
low skilled workers in employment. For a start,
training such workers immediately improves
their own and their company’s productivity,
thus supporting their jobs. Secondly, even if
such workers lose their jobs, skills gained will
help them find new employment. Finally, the
path to recovery through greater innovation and
competitiveness will have to involve an upskilling
of low-skilled workers across the economy.”
4.6 Third Level Education
The National Development Plan 2007-2013
identifies the seminal role of Higher Education in
developing economic renewal and prosperity:
“While the primary purpose of education is to
enable people to reach their full potential as
individuals and as active citizens, the critical role
that higher education plays in fostering economic
prosperity and a dynamic cohesive society is
widely acknowledged. The higher education third
level sector (and also the increasingly important
fourth level sector) has assisted Ireland to position
itself to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing
global economic environment.”
Dublin has a great wealth and diversity of Higher
Education Institutions including internationally
recognised universities, and colleges . While
recognizing the quality of education within the
third level sector, it is clear that there is a need
to invest further in Higher Education. Projects
such as the unified campus for the DIT is central
to the development of the third level sector in
Dublin. The Grangegorman Development Agency
estimate that “The Grangegorman development
will be the single largest regeneration project in
Dublin’s North Inner City in the next decade. The
project will create 450 new construction jobs per
year during the construction phase and at least
1,161 permanent new jobs on completion.” 9
There is a great opportunity to encourage further
indigenous and foreign investment in third level
colleges. Such investment would also help to
attract international students (see Global City).
9 Joining Up the Dots – A Study of the Employment Opportunities Arising from the Grangegorman Development In Dublin’s North Inner City.
Lifelong learning.

32
Dublin City Council
4.7 Recommendations
4.7.1 As a learning city there is a need to
reform the curriculum to meet the needs
of the smart/knowledge economy.
Positive action is required to encourage
more take-up of maths and science
subjects.
4.7.2 The serious problems of educational
disadvantage in the city such as early
school leaving, literacy problems and
poor levels of participation in third level
education within certain geographic
and socio-economic groups needs to
be addressed. Dublin City Council as
a local authority can make significant
interventions in tackling poor educational
attainment through the work of its
libraries and sports development
officers, by supporting homework and
breakfast clubs and also by the provision
of education/community facilities
and programmes in social housing
complexes.
4.7.3 A Dublin Literacy and Numeracy
Partnership should be established to
include Dublin City Council, CDVEC,
FÁS, NALA, partnership companies,
community providers, employer and
trade union representatives as well as
other stakeholders.
4.7.4 The potential for libraries to be used
as local resource centres for people
who are unemployed, and looking for
information on local jobs, training and CV
or job-seeking advice should be further
developed. The Library Service provides
three Youth Zones, which offer internet
access and facilities to encourage
young people to develop skills and
use the computers for a wide range of
purposes such as video creation, music
composition and digital photography.
These initiatives should be developed
throughout the city.
4.7.5 Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) courses
are particularly valuable in a rapidly
changing economic climate where new
skills are required. The number of places
on PLC courses should be increased
in an effort to incentivise young school
leavers to continue their education.
4.7.6 The benefits of Employee Support
Programmes, which seek to upskill staff
and develop their literacy and numeracy
skills, should be widely disseminated to
employer organisations and employers
throughout the city. These programmes
should continue to be supported by
State agencies.
4.7.7 At present there is no structure in place
that facilitates collaboration between
adult education providers in Dublin city.
Mechanisms are needed at local level
in order to avoid duplication of course
provision and ensure referral between
agencies, so that effective use is made
of scarce resources.
4.7.8 The web-based portal on dublin.ie which
includes information on education,
training courses and adult education
providers for those wishing to return to
education should be enhanced.
4.7.9 The development of outreach centres,
which link up to third level institutions,
and facilitate distance or online learning
should be explored.
4.7.10 The unified campus for the DIT at
Grangegorman is central to the
development of the third level sector in
Dublin. The Government’s decision to
approve this project should be made
without delay.
4.7.11 There is a great opportunity to
encourage further indigenous and
foreign investment in third level colleges.
Such investment would also help to
attract international students.

33
5.1 Creative Industries
A recent City Council /NIRSA report “Defining and Valuing Dublin’s
Creative Industries” found that the creative industries in the Greater
Dublin Area employ just over 77,000 people, 59% of the national
total with a Gross Value Added of approximately €3.25 billion.
In January the LMCE held a workshop on promoting the creative
and cultural industries in Dublin City. The workshop explored the
use of current terminology such as the ‘knowledge economy’,
‘creative industries’, ‘innovation’ and it was apparent there were
different opinions and understandings. There was widespread
acceptance that the current economic crisis also presents an
opportunity and that a new economic model is emerging that
includes the creative industries, utilising design thinking, and is
centred on our capacity for innovation. Economic growth in the
emerging Knowledge Economy requires a new understanding of
‘profit’ extending beyond the pure monetary value and towards an
understanding of the need to also achieve of societal and quality
of life goals for people who live and work in the city. The fusion
between the arts, science and commercial interests is needed to
open up possibilities and situations to create innovation.
5.2 The Digital Content and Technology Sector
Dublin City has a small but growing digital content and technology
sector made up of over 140 domestic companies and SMEs in
total covering all the main sub-segments but with a concentration
on a few such as mobile, animation, digital video/film/television and
services. There are also a significant number of large international
organisations such as: Google, Microsoft, eBay, Yahoo and
Facebook etc. The number employed by the sector in Dublin is
growing steadily despite the current recession.
5. CREATIVE CITY
The creative sector
gives our city its
strategic advantage
and competitive edge
in succeeding in a
global economy.
- Michael Bloomberg,
Mayor of New York
Grand Canal Theatre.

34
Dublin City Council
The International Financial Services Centre has
been very successful in turning Dublin into a key
player in the international financial markets. A
similar opportunity exists within the area of digital
content management. Recommendation 29 of
the Global Irish Economic Forum report states:
‘Develop a content management destination,
modelled on the IFSC, which streamlines the
storage, localisation, delivery and distribution
of digital content, and the associated rights
management, clearance and royalty collection
to provide a global service for national and
international clients.’ With the National Digital
Research Centre, The Graduate School of
Creative Arts and Media, and the Digital
Hub located in Dublin, Dublin is the obvious
location for this project. The Digital Hub, with
approximately one hundred companies located
there, is the largest digital content and technology
cluster in the country. This cluster is a significant
and strategic asset to Dublin City as it seeks
to find valuable future jobs. It is also a driver of
social and economic regeneration.
5.3 Film and Media
The Irish audiovisual industry is valued at over
€557.3 million, employs over 6,000 people and
represents 0.3% of Gross Domestic Product
(GDP), equivalent in size to Ireland marine sector.
68% of Irish film and TV production companies
are Dublin based. Twenty-two international film
and television drama productions have been
made in Dublin in 2008 and 2009. These major
US and UK projects have contributed €100m
to the Capital’s economy in that time. In 2008,
18% of all tourists said that “Films” influenced
their decision to holiday in Ireland. €369 million in
tourist expenditure can be attributed exclusively
to this. This figure has grown steadily from 7%
in 2002. But continued success in attracting
major foreign production is far from guaranteed.
International competition for foreign mobile film
and television production is intense.
Brown Bag Films Academy Award Animated Movies Nominations “Give Up Yer Aul Sins (2002), Granny O’Grimm (2010).

35
5.4 Dublin City Culture Strategy 2011-2017
The LMCE made a comprehensive submission
to Dublin City Council’s Draft Culture Strategy
2010-2017. The LMCE welcomed many aspects
of the Draft Strategy, particularly the emphasis on
cultural diversity, while noting that this concept
could be developed further. It also welcomed the
actions in relation to developing an understanding
of economic linkages between science/
technology and arts/culture; the Cultural Tourism
Strategy; supporting Cultural Clusters; and
working with the IDA in attracting Foreign Direct
Investment in cultural enterprises.
Culture has a critical role to play in economic
success; a related point here is that Dublin is
the national cultural hub by virtue of the density
of all the various cultural forms/institutions
including national cultural institutions, galleries,
popular culture, and universities etc. and these
are concentrated in the city centre. Seven of
the top ten visitor attractions in the country are
in Dublin city centre with a significant cluster
in regeneration areas such as the Liberties,
Heuston, and Smithfield. Arts and cultural activity
In 2003 the Film Commission launched an
initiative called the FILM DUBLIN Partnership
(FDP). The FDP aims to ensure that Ireland’s
capital city is an attractive base for local and
international film and television drama production.
The patron of the FDP has traditionally been the
Lord Mayor of Dublin. Whilst filmmakers regularly
use industrial sites within Dublin to house their
productions, the Capital lacks a permanent film
studio complex/media hub. This is a gap that
could be addressed in the current climate.
Film animation is also a growing area. Brown
Bag Films (www.brownbagfilms.com) based in
Smithfield is a young wholly Irish company which
has been nominated for two Academy Award
Nominations in its short lifetime. They employ
more than 50 people, many of them graduates
of Ballyfermot College of Further Education.
The importance of Broadband to the animation
industry cannot be overestimated. Cathal
Gaffney, CEO of Brown Bag Films, described it
at the LMCE conference as the National Roads
Authority of the Digital Media in terms of being
able to export their product.
Opera in the Open.

Lord Mayor of Dublin Commission on Employment

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Lord Mayor of Dublin Commission on Employment