Community Engagement

Overview

Local communities are key stakeholders in the Grangegorman Development. From the very beginning, the Grangegorman Project has had at its heart a strong and tangible commitment to the creation of social and economic benefits for the vibrant and resilient communities surrounding the Grangegorman site.  Our commitment is underpinned and informed by deeply held values around: 

• collaboration and partnership
• equality and human rights
• participation and inclusion 
• delivery and sustainability
• integrity

 Grangegorman Labour & Learning Forum (GLLF) 

In 2010, an initial Joint Implementation Group made way for the Grangegorman Labour & Learning Forum (GLLF), a multi-agency voluntary body under the auspices of the GDA.  A dedicated full-time post was created to coordinate and support its work.   The primary aim of the GLLF was to ensure that employment, education/training and business/enterprise opportunities from the project would benefit and improve the quality of life for surrounding communities.  In addition to identifying and supporting local communities to access employment, training, and business opportunities, the GLLF was instrumental in bringing the Area-Based Childhood Programme (ABC) to Grangegorman and was a partner in the initial development of TU Dublin’s Access to Apprenticeship Programme. 

Build to Last Strategy  

In 2024, the GDA began a process of renewing its commitment and approaches to community engagement and community benefit within the Grangegorman Project. In developing our new Build to Last Community Strategy, our overarching goals are to: 

• support sustainable and resilient communities surrounding the development to survive and thrive over the next phase of the development and beyond;
• widen and deepen our relationships and partnerships with surrounding communities;
• further embed community benefit considerations within our project engagement and delivery;
• strengthen a sense of collective ownership of the new Grangegorman Urban Quarter.

Our Build to Last Strategy will also seek to reflect the relevant UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) around poverty, good health and well-being, quality education, decent work and economic growth, reduced inequalities, sustainable cities and communities, climate action, as well as partnership for achieving the Goals.

The Build to Last Strategy has a universal ‘whole of community’ approach with targeted interventions around underserved communities and unmet or emerging needs.  In this way we aim to address disadvantage and marginalisation while working towards greater community-wide cohesion and inclusion.

Build to Last Forum

In 2025 a new community forum was established to replace the GLLF and to ensure that the GDA remains focused on the delivery of meaningful benefits for local communities.  The Build to Last Forum is a voluntary body under the auspices of the GDA and is made up of representatives of community/voluntary, statutory/public and business/enterprise bodies and organisations working in the Grangegorman area.  The Forum is chaired by an independent external Chairperson. The GDA’s Community Engagement Manager acts as Secretary to the Forum, and coordinates and supports its work. 

The role of the Build to Last Forum is to:

• Inform and support the development and delivery of the Build to Last Community Strategy.
• Assist with identifying needs and developing appropriate responses.
• Model effective interagency and intersectoral collaboration and cooperation.
• Bring local knowledge, relationships and resources together with the aim of maximising positive impact for local communities.
• Maintain a focus on community benefits in relation to the Grangegorman Development.

The members of the Build to Last Forum are: 

• Community/Voluntary:
  • An Síol Community Development Programme (CDP)
  • Aosóg Child and Family Project
  • Bohemians Football Club (Bohs FC)
  • Daughters of Charity Community Services (DOCCS)
  • Dublin Northwest Partnership (DNP) 
• Public/Statutory:
  • City of Dublin Education & Training Board (CDETB)
  • Department of Social Protection/Intreo
  • Dublin City Council (DCC)
  • Grangegorman Development Agency (GDA)
  • Health Services Executive (HSE)
  • St Paul’s CBS Secondary School (‘the Brunner’)
  • TU Dublin 
• Business/Enterprise:
  • Dublin Chamber of Commerce
  • Inner City Enterprise (ICE)
  • Smithfield & Stoneybatter Business Association (SSBA)

 The Build to Last Forum is also planning to establish a range of inclusive working groups to support its work as and when required.  These groups will be open to representatives from organisations, groups and projects in the area who may be interested in engaging with particular areas of work, or specific projects and initiatives.