COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

south dublin county council crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, March 09, 2009

MOTION NO. 1

MOTION: C. Services Department

MAYORS BUSINESS

That this Council actively engage with the Institute of Technology and FAS to explore the innovation and creation of new employment opportunities in this County.

REPORT:

The Council currently actively engages with  and will continue to engage with FAS and the Institute of Technology and other key stakeholders to examine and develop innovative methods of job creation within the County.  To date our collaborative approach to inter agency work has been chanelled through the Economic Development Working Group of County Development Board.  This group comprises of representatives from the Council, South Dublin chamber of Commerce, Dodder Valley Partnership, CPLN Partnership, FAS, South Dublin County Enterprise Board, Community Platform and the IDA.  This group is mandated through the County Strategy to:-

South Dublin Chamber was nominated by the County Development Board as the lead agent for the development of the Economic Strategy.  This strategy was adopted by the County Development Board at its meeting on the 28th of November 2008, following a consultative process undertaken earlier in 2008 and was launched in February 2009.  The strategy identifies seventeen opportunites for the County to further economic progress and activity.  Through pursuit of these opportunities new employment avenues will be opened within County.

Dodder Valley Partnership is the lead agency developing a strategy for  improving access to and progression within employment for disadvantaged groups. Work commenced on the strategy in 2008 and will continue in 2009.

The working group produced and published guidance in 2008 to assist employers and employees undergoing restructuring within their current employment.

Further to the CDB working group the Economic Development Department actively engages with its state partners, such as the IDA and Enterprise Ireland to seek and attract new investment into the County.  By working in partnership with the agencies the Council has sucessfully attracted a number of high profile multi-national companies to the County over the last number of years.  The Council regularly engages with these companies to discuss issues arising and we seek to mitigate any obstacles that they may be encountering to ensure their continued successful operation in the County.

The Council also seeks to support start up indigenous businesses and the small to medium enterprise sector, again in conjunction with our partners, through the provision and support of enterprise centres in the County.  A large number of businesses, circa 101, employing approximately 275 people, are currently located in enterprise centres developed by the Council over the years.  The Council is currently looking at a joint venture with Enterprise Ireland to identify and develop a site that would be suitable for indigenous businesses that are currently located in the enterprise centres but are seeking to expand.  This would allow current businesses to further develop and also afford an opportunity to new start up companies to establish themselves in supported premises.

2009 is the year of Creativity & Innovation and the Council along with other stakeholders, such as the Institute of Technology and FAS,  are examining a number of projects that will identify sectors at risk within in the County, risk assess the prominent employment categories and develop interventions and programmes that will help to foster the entrepeneurial spirit of its citizens to encourage new business and job creation within the County.