Grothendieck space ideals and weak continuity of polynomials on locally convex spaces

We introduce the classes of locally convex spaces with the local Dunford-Pettis property and locally dual Schur spaces. We examine their properties and their relationship to other classes of locally convex spaces. In the class of locally convex spaces with the local Dunford-Pettis property all polynomials are weakly sequentially continuous whereas in the class of locally dual Schur spaces all polynomials are weakly continuous on bounded sets. Research supported by Science Foundation Ireland, Basic Research Grant 2004.