Dublin's disadvantaged southwestern suburbs need incentives to be targeted in a better way to stem social exclusion, the president of the South Dublin Chamber of Commerce, Mr Pat McGrath, said yesterday. Three neighbourhoods in particular - west Tallaght, north Clondalkin and west Clondalkin - required significant investment from the public and private sectors, he said.
Speaking before the annual Christmas lunch, the organisation's chief executive, Mr John Dunne, stressed that the area had been transformed in recent years, attracting 11 of the top 100 companies operating in the Republic. As examples, he cited CRH, Gallaghers, United Drug, Fujitsu, Killeen Investments and the Clondalkin Group.
But behind these successes, he said, there was much work to be done, especially in the fight against poverty and social exclusion.
"The Live Register grew 20 per cent in 1996, and we have 60 per cent long-term unemployment," Mr Dunne said.
The chamber's president, Mr Pat MacGrath, said targeted incentives were required to help combat social exclusion and economic disadvantage in certain areas, and that the money should come from both the private and the public sectors.
