COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, December 08, 2014
QUESTION NO. 17
QUESTION: Councillor W. Lavelle
To ask the Chief Executive to outline the total amount of unspent monies from the 2014 and 2015 allocations for Business Support Grants, which is expected to be available in 2015 for investment in other initiatives, such as the “refurbishment and revitalisation” of areas of vacancy?
REPLY:
South Dublin County Council is committed to supporting and enhancing enterprise in the County. The Council has undertaken a wide range of initiatives to sustain and enhance economic development in South Dublin County particularly since the commencement of the Business Sustainment Initiative in conjunction with South Dublin Chamber in 2011. One of the initiatives introduced and approved by the members in Budget 2014 was a Business Support Grant applicable to ratepayers in the County which applied to participating business paying rates of less than €10,000 (subject to certain criteria). E1.2M was provided in 2014 being c 1% of rates income.
The Grant was linked to another key project to support and assist South Dublin Chamber in undertaking a full Economic Profile of the County. This survey called to all business premises in the County and included an on-line survey. Detailed information was collated including: activity, location, employment and the general business environment. The survey was launched in draft format at the South Dublin County Expo in October and will be published in full before Christmas.
Following discussions during the adoption of the 2015 budget the members approved the continuation of the business support grant. It was further agreed that the surplus from the 2014 budget and potentially arising from 2015 provision be utilised to support business in the County based on feedback received from the survey and South Dublin Chamber.
A key issue emerging from the carrying out of the County Economic Profile is the need to focus funding to give effective support to enhance the physical environment of industrial estates within the County; this is particularly in the case of areas which are underutilised with higher rates of vacancy. This issue is also emerging through parallel research which the Council has been undertaking through analysing rates information and on the ground surveys.
As a practical support to existing business support and enhance our underutilised industrial areas monies that are surplus to Business Support Grant 2014 and 2015 will be utilised to concentrate on effectively enhancing a number of industrial areas with a view to replicating this in a broader rolling programme over the coming years, subject to budgetary approval.
It is envisaged that this programme will:
- Seek the active participation of businesses within areas identified in need of immediate improvement
- Identify a series of Improvements Works which will be funded. These works will generally be related to the physical improvement of the area.
- In the first instance we will identify pilot programme location(s). Area(s) will be identified based on an analysis of the existing research and in conjunction with South Dublin Chamber.
- Develop a programme of works to be carried out in conjunction with an active local business group, funded through the Business Support Grant.
- Develop a projected schedule for the rollout of this programme which may include a graduated series of interventions.
Potentially the programme may also provide supports in terms of training and marketing opportunities highlighted in the survey and follow up discussions with business.
Proposals in relation of the detailed programme approach will be presented to, and considered by the Economic, Enterprise and Tourism SPC and reported to Council.