THE archways under Connolly Station, Amiens Street, on the north side of Dublin, are set to be turned into an alternative retail and entertainment centre for Dublin along the lines of Temple Bar.

The new enterprise centre is being developed by the Big Issues magazine and is expected to initially take 500 people off the live register.

The centre will be a "cross between Camden Town market in London and a crafts centre", said Mr Ger Egan, general manager and director of the magazine.

The Big Issues is a non profit making organisation which produces a fortnightly magazine sold by the long term unemployed as well us providing training and a housing association.

Mr Egan has been negotiating with the CIE board for almost a year to lease the site. He did not say how much he would be paying for the area but insisted it was a good deal. The deal is expected to be finalised in about three weeks.

He expects it to cost up to £5 million to develop the site. "That is a small price to pay for 1,500 jobs within two to three years," he said.

Three private investors have already made verbal commitments to put up one third of the money. The rest will come from the EU as well as various Government Departments, Mr Egan hopes.

The social side of the centre will provide rent free spaces for the long term unemployed to make and sell products. At the same time the commercial side, which he hopes will include a pub and cafes, will provide a subsidy.

The area consists of a long spiral archway, about 1,000 metres long, with 65 arches off it. The main difference with Temple Bar will be the management ethos, Mr Egan said.

"The whole emphasis will be on providing new jobs for unemployed people."