COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

south dublin county council crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, October 14, 2013

QUESTION NO. 9

QUESTION: Councillor D. Looney

To ask the Manager to state the supports which will be made available to retailers and other businesses outside of the areas designated as part of the "Villages Initiative," to state if a second tier of village/suburban centres will be considered for a separate scheme, and to state if any grants or supports available under the proposed "Villages Initiative" will be extended to those in other areas?

REPLY:

At the recent meeting of the Organisation Procedure and Finance Committee on 19th September 2013, under Headed Item 5, the County Manager delivered a presentation to the Members on how it is intended to revise and reformat the Villages Initiative to become a 5-year programme commencing 2014.  The Villages Initiative to date centred on the use of direct grant-aid to local groups to carry out works and events on an ad hoc basis. The new programme will define landscape, public realm, signage / branding, and tourist trail strategies for each village and direct existing Council works programmes to engage with and deliver these strategies.  Larger individual projects augmenting unique selling points of each village will be developed and funding streams established.  A matching fund to encourage private-sector actions particularly in relation to shop-fronts and painting projects will be established in conjunction with a community support fund to support local groups in realising areas of the plans not undertaken by the Council, festivals, events, etc. The programme will address Clondalkin, Lucan, Newcastle, Palmerstown, Rathcoole, Rathfarnham, Saggart, Tallaght Village and Templeogue.  It is not intended to extend these revised arrangements for the Villages Initiatives beyond the villages listed above.  Other existing activities under the Council Sustaining Business Initiative, Community Grants Scheme and Tidy Towns grants to groups constituted and signed up to Tidy Towns Competitions, will be available beyond the Villages Initiative.  Direct support to Residents Associations and Community Groups (salt bins, plants etc.) will to continue of course to apply as previously.