COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, March 14, 2011

HEADED ITEM NO.9b

STRATEGIC POLICY COMMITTEES

(i) Report of Meeting 28th February 2011

REPORT:

Introduction to the Council's Strategic Support for Business and Employment

Frank Nevin, Director of Planning delivered a presentation on the strategy which had recently and responded to queries raised by Councillors Cosgrave and O’Connell and Ms Murphy which focused on

• Examination of vacant and available public buildings for quality initiatives and try to match vacancy with demand
• Requirement for incubation units with low rent and rates and collaboration in that regard with County Enterprise Board and PARTAS
• Multiplicity of opportunities that could present through Year of Craft

 Presentation on Creative Village

Frank Nevin, Director of Planning delivered a presentation on the proposed use of vacant spaces in the vicinity and focused primarily on:

• Aims of the proposal
• Potential Benefits to participants
• Specific Criteria
• Research undertaken
• Respondents
• Uses of available space
• Next steps…identifying potential tenants and spaces / liaising with receiver(s)/ mobile expo of craft

The presentation was warmly welcomed and received the unanimous support of the committee, who referred to possibilities for Tallaght under this initiative and favourable comparisons with Dublin’s Temple Bar.

 Year of Craft

County Librarian Georgina Byrne delivered a presentation on proposals to mark the 40^th anniversary of Crafts Council of Ireland, the objective of which is to promote the craft profession and provide opportunities to make, see, collect and learn. 

Ms Byrne outlined details of the 2011 South Dublin Programme including details of

• 4 major exhibitions 
• Programme organized through the SDC Library Service
• Christmas Craft Fair 

Ms Murphy referred to the imminent centenary celebration of Whitechurch Library which could be incorporates into the programme and Cllr O’Connell suggested that crafts synonymous with the ICA, Travelling Community, “New World” should also be included.   Cllr Keane suggested that a photographic programme be incorporated and that efforts should be made to ensure that there is continuity with the initiative with focus on craft for pleasure and craft for economic purposes. 

Mr Conroy congratulated the County Librarian and her staff once again on the excellent programme outlined.  

Establish Subcommittee of ACGE&L SPC to progress relevant business and employment initiatives

Teresa Walsh Director of Services advised that having regard to the business items already considered and the need to progress certain initiatives directly through this SPC, it is recommended that a subcommittee be established to work specifically on these initiatives.

It was unanimously agreed that the following four members would form a subcommittee:

CllrsGus O’Connell, Cllr Paddy Cosgrave, Cllr. Cait Keane and Mr John Conroy

Update on Student Support

Mary Maguire, SEO updated the meeting in relation to application statics for 2010/2011 v 2009/2010, financial comparison for the same academic periods, pilot scheme for automated data entry and implications of the Student Support Act passed in early February including the establishment of a single agency to administer the grants currently administered by VECs and Local Authorities.

Cllr O’ Connell noted that CDVEC and Donegal made a joint bid and Cllr Keane highlighted difficulties in making representations on behalf of VEC students