Children from Dublin’s Inner City joined Noel Dempsey TD at the Digital Hub last week, to strengthen the Hub’s partnership with the local community in the delivery of the next phase of The Digital Hub. Education for local children was high on the agenda.
Joining the minister was Mark Elliot, representing P Elliot & Co Ltd, and John Moran, representing Manor Park Homebuilders Ltd (the two private developers who recently were awarded consent to develop The Digital Hub.) The Minister revealed the Digital Hub has engaged with local community interests on the project consulting thorough the Community, Public, Private Partnership (CPPP) process, which is chaired by DHDA Board Member Peter Cassells.
According to Minister Dempsey, "The residents, the developers and the state are all making investments in the future of The Digital Hub district that is good to live in, good to learn in, and good to work in."
Megan Spooner from Donore Avenue, and Craig Collins from School Street, both aged 6, represented the Liberties community at the event. Megan and Craig will both be aged twelve when The Digital Hub is fully developed into a mix of digital media enterprise, residential, retail and public space. As with all children in the Liberties, Megan and Craig will have the opportunity to learn digital media skills through The Digital Hub's learning initiative.
The aim of the initiative is to ensure that local children will be able to fully avail of the benefits of The Digital Hub.
According to Philip Flynn, Chief Executive Officer, Digital Hub Development Agency today's event is another example of the true spirit of partnership with the local community. "We have engaged with the Liberties community from the very beginning of this project, and Megan and Craig will benefit hugely from this relationship. The community identified education as a huge local need, and we have invested EUR2.6 million to date in local schools and community groups through the Diageo Liberties Learning Initiative, (DLLI).
Megan and Craig will have the opportunity to access digital media education throughout their school careers. We hope this leads to them going on to third level courses in digital media, and eventually working in, maybe even owning companies in The Digital Hub," said Philip.
Ministerial consent to develop The Digital Hub was given to P Elliot &
Son and Manor Park Homebuilders on 22nd November 2005. They were
selected from twelve proposals submitted by private developers. Both developers have six months to lodge planning applications and must engage with interested parties through the CPPP process.
www.digitalhub.ie
