COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

south dublin county council crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, December 10, 2012

MOTION NO.2

MOTION: Councillor W. Lavelle

That this Council commends the ongoing programme of ‘Strategic Support towards Business Development and Survival’; and recommends that this council intensify its efforts to more aggressively brand and promote South Dublin County as an attractive location for foreign-direct investment (noting similar strategies by other local authorities), in particular aimed at targeted sectors including in the area of digital services, as set-down in objective 3 of the business support agenda.

REPORT:

Outcome 1 "South Dublin County has become more attractive as a location enabling the IDA to locate strategic and Foreign Direct Investment: Grange Castle Business Park is competitive in national and global markets with increased employment" and Outcome 3 "South Dublin County is established as a major international digital services centre capable of attracting innovative employment", support the approach set out in the Motion. As members will be aware a progress report on the "Strategic Support towards Business Development and Survival’ programme is updated to the Corporate Policy Group. The Council has, and will continue to, deliver the infrastructure necessary to support high value FDI in the County, particularly the power and communications necessary for modern industry. The success of this approach is demonstrated in emergent bio-pharma and data centre clusters in the County. In marketing terms the Council works closely with all stakeholders, including local business, and particularly the state agencies to ensure the promotion of South Dublin County as a place to do business, nationally and internationally.

At the October Council meeting the Sectoral Strategy of the Local Government Sector to Promote Employment and Support Local Enterprise was outlined and the CPG and Economic Development SPC have been presented with the Economic Strategy for the County and a working group of the SPC are drafting an Action Plan for the strategy commencing Q1 2013. (There is a full report in this regard listed for this Council meeting.)