Dublin council asks Clerys developer to show how it will create jobs

Dublin City Council wants the company behind the redevelopment of Clerys to show how it intends to promote local employment during and after construction.

Clerys closed controversially last year with the loss of 467 jobs. Its owner, OCS Properties, is seeking permission from Dublin City Council to redevelop it as a hotel, offices, shops and a restaurant.

Deputy city planner Mary Conway has asked the company to submit details of a strategy "which would promote local employment opportunities" both during and after the redevelopment of the landmark building on O'Connell Street.

Ms Conway points out that the council’s planning scheme for the street and the surrounding area includes a clause that aims to re-establish it as a place of social and cultural importance and where workers are assured of fair conditions.

She adds that, to implement this and to maximise job opportunities, especially for local communities, OCS is asked to submit details of its employment strategy.

“The applicant is requested to note that this may involve making a commitment to working with Dublin City Council and associated agencies in the implementation of an employment and training strategy, especially in the retail and catering elements of the proposed development,” Ms Conway says.

Apprenticeships created

After OCS sought planning permission, a number of city councillors, including Ciarán Cuffe and Nial Ring, warned in "objector letters" submitted in response to the application that the company had to commit to ensuring that workers in the redeveloped building would be treated fairly.

Natrium, which took over OCS in 2015, responded that the redevelopment would create 1,037 building jobs.“Apprenticeships will be created with many employed from the surrounding area,” the company said.

“Once completed there will be 1,450 direct jobs and 1,115 indirect jobs with a contribution of €329.1 million annually to the Irish economy,” it added.

Clerys closed in June 2015 when Natrium, backed by FAM Assets, controlled by businesswoman Deirdre Foley, and UK-based Cheyne Capital, bought OCS Properties, which owned the building, and OCS Operations, which ran the department store, for €29 million.

It sold the operating company to an insolvency specialist which successfully petitioned the High Court to have it liquidated. As a result, 130 Clerys employees and about 330 people working for concession holders, lost their jobs in the store.

The transaction and redundancies sparked an outcry from the workers themselves, as well as trade unionists and politicians.