An estimated 23,000 people now work in Dublin's docklands, according to the authority responsible for developing the area. Barry O'Halloranreports.

Dublin Docklands Development Authority (DDDA) said in an end-of-year statement yesterday that the area's profile was boosted in 2007 by the arrival of tenants like PricewaterhouseCoopers, law firm Matheson Ormsby Prentice, Fortis Bank and engineers Arup.

The estimated number of employees in the docklands now stood at 23,000, the authority said yesterday.

Accountants and consultants, PricewaterhouseCoopers was the biggest employer to move to the docklands in 2007. The firm and its 2,100 staff took up residence in a 21,370 sq m building on Spencer Dock.

Matheson Ormsby Prentice joined fellow law firms McCann Fitzgerald and Mason Hayes Curran around Sir John Rogerson's Quay. BCM Hanby Wallace has announced that it intends moving to the docklands in the near future.

Earlier this year, the DDDA joined forces with developers Bernard McNamara and Derek Quinlan to pay €412 million for the old Ardagh Glass site in Ringsend. The deal netted a €7 for €1 windfall for shareholders in Ardagh spin-off, South Wharf.

During 2007, work began on the €800 million Point Village development, which will include a 18,600 sq m shopping centre, cinema complex, museum and offices. The project includes an expansion of the Point Theatre to give a capacity of up to 15,000 people.

The Government awarded Treasury Holdings the contract for the National Convention Centre at Spencer Dock, which is set to open for business in 2010.

US-based Irish architect Kevin Roche will design the building. Treasury has already hired the Birmingham National Exhibition Centre company to operate the Spencer Dock facility.

Authority chief executive Paul Maloney said yesterday that the region continued its economic and social transformation during the year.

"The continued flow of new businesses and thousands of workers into the area has bolstered the docklands standing," he said.