COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, May 14, 2012

MOTION NO. 20

MOTION: Councillor E. Tuffy

That this Committee fully supports the Manager's Sustaining and Developing Business Initiative, notes the content of the Action Plan for Jobs 2012, particularly the content of Chapter 2 Supporting Indigenous Start Ups and Action 2.5 relating to a new Community Enterprise Development Programme and new Community Enterprise Centres, asks the Manager to present to the Meeting a summary report on the current position in respect of the Council's involvement in community based Enterprise Centres in the County, and requests the Manager to pursue, with Enterprise Ireland and in the context of the Action Plan for Jobs, the realization of additional Community Enterprise Centres in the County, particularly in those parts of the County where there are at present no Community Enterprise Centres.

REPORT:

Action Plan for Jobs 2012 builds on work across Government to deliver reform and create economic growth, and will deliver on the third major strand of Government’s economic programme. Action Plan for Jobs 2012 is the first instalment in a multi-year process. Section 2.5 states:

2.5 Establish a new Community Enterprise Development Programme for the maintenance or

establishment of a strong business development function in the Community Enterprise

Centres funded by Enterprise Ireland. This will see up to 30 centres benefit from a full-time

business development function, providing a 50% grant towards eligible costs or €50,000 over

two years.

The Plan is accompanied by a detailed list of the more than 270 actions which includes the measures required to implement each action and the Government body responsible for implementation in each case. The Cabinet has also sanctioned the establishment of a Monitoring Committee which will be chaired by the Taoiseach’s Department and will also include representatives of the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and Forfás. A number of expert staff from Forfás will work closely with the Department of the Taoiseach to assist with the monitoring process. Quarterly reports on implementation will be prepared and published by this monitoring group.

In addition, a series of regional meetings will be held over the coming months as part of the on-going process of consultation on job-creation. 

The Government have indicated their intention to create  “One Stop Shops” called “Local Enterprise Offices” to build on the significant work done by the CEBs to date. The new “one-stop-shop” micro enterprise support structure will be achieved through the dissolution of the existing CEBs and the creation of a new Micro Enterprise and Small Business Unit in Enterprise Ireland (EI) that will work with Local Authorities to establish a new network of Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) in each Local Authority. This restructuring of EI to refocus its efforts on small and micro businesses is part of a wider restructuring that will also see the establishment of a Potential Exporters Division within E.I., and more collaborative work with the IDA.

It is understood that the intention is that Enterprise Ireland and the Local Authorities will be tasked with developing and rolling-out a LEO structure to facilitate the carrying out of the proposed functions of those offices as agreed by Government. It is anticipated that the current cohort of CEB staff will transfer to either Enterprise Ireland or the Local Authority.

Clearly, a lot of developmental work will need to be done over the coming months to effect these changes across all organisations – the CEBs, the Local Authorities and Enterprise Ireland – and, not least, there will be important HR issues to be addressed. These issues will be addressed having regard to appropriate practices in such instances, including consultations with all relevant Parties and, also, with advice and guidance from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform,  having due regard to the Croke Park Agreement.

Although much of the above developmental work and discussions will take place at National Level we have substantial groundwork established in South Dublin County in terms of :

• The interagency approach involving the relevant stakeholders embedded in the economic subgroup of the CDB.
• the research and experience originally gained in the IEZ and now on a regional level with the IEN
• the physical presence of the CEB in County Hall and the progress made on the concept of an "Innovation Hub" in that public area.
• the working relationships established with local agencies, business and national bodies through the "Sustaining and developing business programme".

In terms of employment initiatives the Council will continue to work with all relevant stakeholders through the County Development Board and the County Social Inclusion Measures group in promoting and developing programmes in accordance with Government strategy leading to alignment of skills with enterprise needs. Particularly the Council will work closely with the Local Development Companies, Dodder Valley and CPLN, in the co-ordinated delivery of their Strategies and Action Plans in meeting the goals of the LCDP and specifically in relation to access to training towards job readiness and supporting local enterprise. Local enterprise centres at Killinarden, Brookfield, Bawnogue and Neilstown have been an integral part of this strategy. Occupation levels at the Centres have been consistently at a high level.

A full monthly update on the Council's Strategic Support towards business development and survival is provided at the Corporate Policy Group Meetings at the following link

A similar Motion in the name of Councillor Lavelle was referred to Economic Development SPC from the March Council meeting and is scheduled for discussion at the SPC on 9th May.