I am delighted to be here today on the Grangegorman site to see at first hand the development of this project and the tremendous opportunities that it offers nationally, regionally and locally.

It is extremely heartening to have a major development project underway in this part of the city.  We all remember the days of the Celtic Tiger when the silhouette of countless cranes on the skyline of Dublin was a familiar sight.  Since the economic crash, their absence, by and large, has been a stark reminder of how this economy, and the construction industry with it, went from boom to bust.

When this Government came to office in 2011 we were faced with the enormous task of getting things back under control.  We had to work quickly to succeed in stabilising the banks, getting the public finances in order and getting the economy moving again.  We reached a major milestone last year when we were able to exit the bailout without a precautionary credit line.

We are also starting to see signs of a broad based economic recovery with 5,000 jobs now being created every month (compared to 7000 per month being lost when we came into Government).  This is starting to translate into reduced unemployment levels with the rate now at 12.1%.  Although this is still too high, it is the lowest that it has been since 2009.  We can afford at this stage to be far more confident about our prospects than at any time since the crisis began.

One of our major strategies has been to boost the economy by planning to spend some €17 billion over 5 years on capital projects throughout the country.  It is not what we might have wished to spend but all that we could spend.

To supplement that programme I looked once again at alternative ways to fund development that would both create jobs and meet additional infrastructural requirements.

In 2012 I was able to announce the recommencement of our PPP programme with a package of €1.5bn of measures announced.

In advance I took the opportunity to visit the Grangegorman site to see at first hand the potential of this project not just for the local area but for the city and country as a whole.

As you will be aware, some €180 million of this is going towards the Grangegorman project with €300 million to be invested in it overall by the Government up to September 2017.

It is particularly welcome that this investment will provide approximately 3,500 jobs during the construction phases of the projects.  Without any doubt, one of the largest remaining challenges is to replace the jobs that this economy has lost and to provide good quality job opportunities for all of our people.

I am pleased too that this project is one of those being used to trial local employment charters in major construction projects and that 16% of those employed on the site are from the local area.  This is, of

We need to get back to a sustainable level of activity in construction, as part of both a short and medium term growth agenda.  It is my view that recovery will not feel like recovery, until the construction sector is restored to something like a normal level of activity.

That is why we are working to finalise a strategy to address the needs of the construction industry which we discussed at a special cabinet meeting last week.  We must take steps to create jobs in construction and ensure that we develop a right-sized sector that has long term sustainability.

Above all, this Government’s priority is to create the right environment for employment. The biggest problem still facing households continues to be work – either not having a job, or not having enough work.

Recovery is about improving the life chances, and the living standards, and the quality of life of the hard-pressed families whose sacrifices made recovery possible.

So it is great to see the progress that is being made here on-site and to consider the benefits that will flow from this project. I am delighted that the new replacement mental health facility for St. Brendan’s Hospital has already been handed over to the HSE by the Grangegorman Development Agency – the first major building project completed as part of this development.

It is also good news that the Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairi Quinn has approved a major €23 million works contract at the site.  This is preparing for the consolidation of the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT), bringing together in one place its 39 existing scattered locations.

I know that the ultimate vision for this site is for much more than a collection of new buildings – it is for a vibrant new city quarter with a diverse range of uses. And as well as the obvious benefits to the area in terms of mental health and educational services, there is tremendous potential for this project to enrich community life and provide employment opportunities.

Sustainability is also a key factor for a development of this scale and ensuring that it fits with both national and international policy objectives is important.  So I am pleased to see that the DIT and the Grangegorman Development Agency (GDA) have developed a policy framework  identifying clearly how this development complements and adds to existing relevant national and international policies.

In addition, the updated Joining Up the Dots report provides a comprehensive update of the socio-economic, demographic and employment data for the Grangegorman development areas.  I am particularly struck by the fact that 19% of the existing national population live within an easy commuting distance of 10km of this site.  This is an important factor in its sustainable development.

Also clear is that adjacent areas in the Dublin Inner City contain significant clusters of high deprivation that will be able to benefit from having a major third level institution in close proximity.

But, as a politician, I am more than aware that it is not just a matter of having the relevant data available and the issues clearly identified.   A commitment to tackle those issues and to implement the necessary strategies is critical to success.

The commitment of the GDA and the DIT to the integration of this development with the community is clearly demonstrated in their approach.  I am also pleased to see that the Grangegorman Labour and Learning Forum is working hard to pursue its objectives to develop the socio economic opportunities for the surrounding and wider communities.

Another welcome initiative is the Grangegorman Employment Charter which is underpinning the project’s contribution to the structural and social regeneration of the area.

The work that the DIT and Grangegorman Development Agency have been doing to build relationships with local communities is a vital part of what will be achieved here.  The partnership group in existence for more than ten years is making a real contribution to ensuring social gain for the area.

Recovery has to be felt in the community. And this is community at work.

In that context, I would also like to congratulate the DIT and the Development Agency in developing the Grangegorman and the North West Inner City proposal which was selected to progress to the development phase of the Area Based Childhood (ABC) Programme.

This is an initiative of particular interest to me as I have worked closely with the Minister for Children to secure funding of almost €30m, from the exchequer and Atlantic Philanthropies, to improve the long-term outcomes for children and families living in areas of disadvantage.  I see this as very complementary to the work that is underway to ensure that the local community experiences real dividends from the Grangegorman project.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to visit you here today.  This is a tremendous development with enormous potential.  I am struck by its scale and ambition and am impressed by the drive and commitment of all the parties involved.  I look forward to seeing continued progress here at Grangegorman and I will certainly be looking for regular updates.

ENDS