Maynooth Geographers assist Clery's workers get better deal from urban development planning

Sunday Business Post article
Thursday, April 6, 2017 - 12:30

Current lecturer, Philip Lawton and PhD graduate, Eoin O'Mahony were recently involved in the planning aspect of the campaign for Clery's workers.  

In the months following the closure of Clery's in 2015, SIPTU approached Philip Lawton to get advice on the planning implications of any future plans for the site.  Based on his PhD research, he advised on the specifics of the Scheme of Special Planning Control for O'Connell Street. At the centre of the Scheme is embedded a set of principles about the types of functions that should or shouldn't be allowed. These are based on the notion of O'Connell St. as being of significant importance in the history of the city and nation. Following from this original engagement, SIPTU subsequently had the new (2016) version of the Scheme amended to include 'fair working conditions' as a key part of the vision of the street.

Throughout this process, Maynooth PhD graduate, Eoin O'Mahony played a key role in the inclusion of principles of fair working conditions and promoting employment opportunities for local workers. While SIPTU originally appealed the recently granted planning application by Natrium to An Bord Pleanala, a deal was subsequently brokered which led to the establishment of a Trust for the former workers, as well as a commitment to work with previous employees and provide employment opportunities for local people from the North East of Dublin City Centre.