COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

south dublin county council crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, November 14, 2011

MOTION NO. 13

MOTION: Councillor E. Tuffy

That this Council welcomes the decision of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland to select Tallaght as one of three Sustainable Energy Communities (SECs) in Ireland, compliments the Manager and the team who developed and made the submission for the project, and requests the Manager to present for discussion at the November Council meeting a report setting out how it is intended to implement the Tallaght SEC, and providing a summary of anticipated outcomes and benefits from the project.  

REPORT:

The designation of Tallaght as one of three new exemplar Sustainable Energy Communities in Ireland, is an important national recognition of South Dublin County Councils commitment to the energy and climate change challenge, and acknowledges the Councils efforts at becoming a focal point for energy efficiency and cost savings in South Dublin County. There is a full report on same as a headed item for this meeting.

Following a competitive process, the Tallaght SEC was selected from bids made by fourteen local authorities, for having a forward thinking, co-ordinated approach to energy savings and integrating sustainable energy into community planning and development.  Over the five year duration of the programme, theTallaght SEC will work with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) who will provide technical, project management and mentoring supports.

 The delivery of the Tallaght SEC allows for the expertise of South Dublin County Council to be folded out into the wider community, encouraging private innovation partnered with public leadership. To oversee the implementation of the Tallaght SEC a Steering Group has been set up; members of the Steering Group include representatives from South Dublin County Council, South Dublin Chamber of Commerce, Tallaght Institute of Technology, The Square Shopping Centre, Respond Housing Association, HSE, Tallaght Leisure Centre, Circle Housing Association, Coillte, Bord na Mona and Southampton City Council (partner in EU LEAP project).

Furthermore, a number of Action Groups are in the process of being set up to co-ordinate and implement a range of projects and initiatives across all sectors (including residential and business pilot projects).

 The expected outcome of the Tallaght SEC is an increase in energy awareness, energy efficiency and a reduction in CO2 emissions and energy costs for all stakeholders involved, in particular homeowners and businesses. Through the course of the project, the feasibility of renewable energy alternatives will also be explored. South Dublin County Council will be well placed to support and/or  leverage further national and EU funding for emerging sustainable energy related projects for the County.

The SEC provides an opportunity to inform the energy debate at a wider strategic level; pilot projects and initiatives carried out in South Dublin can inform dialogue at a wider regional, National and European level. The Tallaght SEC will also have an important overlapping relationship with the development of the South Dublin Sustainable Energy Action Plan (SEAP), currently being carried out under the EU funded Intelligent Energy Europe (IEE) programme.

Details of the presentation delivered to SEAI is provided at Headed Item 12 above