COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF LUCAN AREA COMMITTEE
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
MOTION NO. 14
MOTION: Councillor W. Lavelle
"That this Area Committee calls on the Chief Executive to prioritise efforts to identify an appropriate vacant premises in Lucan/Adamstown which could be leased for the provision of dedicated new micro-enterprise and/or e-working space to support new business start-ups, similar to successful centres developed by other local authorities; that this objective be addressed as part of the planned new County Enterprise Strategy; and that a proposal to fund this initiative via a contribution for the Lucan EA from the expected €750,000+ fund available to the Council from unspent Business Support Grants in 2014 & 2015 be referred to the Working Group which has been established by the Economic Development & Enterprise SPC to consider the use of this fund."
REPORT:
A core objective of this Council in relation to business is to ring-fence 1% of rates paid for projects directly related to supporting business. The Business Support grant is a key element of this objective
The Business Support Grant is primarily intended to provide a support grant to ratepayers under €10,000 valuation. However, as indicated at Budget, CPG and Council meetings the surplus funds over and above the direct grant to ratepayers will be retained to fund other interventions to support Business in the County.
These interventions will be guided by the feedback from the business survey carried out in 2014, the vacancy analysis and physical surveys of our business parks and may include :
- physical upgrade of the business environment in the County,
- additional training and support through LEO in conjunction with our business sustainability program with the Chamber, and
- the potential of supporting additional incubator/enterprise space in the County, where required and making use of appropriate vacant space.
The table below sets out the current position on the 2014 budgetary BSG provision:
| 2014 BSG Fund | €1.2M | |
| Paid to date | €207,000 | 522 applications |
| In progress | c€440,000 | Approx 1,100 |
| Total remaining budget | €553,000 | Estimated based on projected total grant |
A key feedback from talking to local businesses in compiling the County Economic Profile is the need for a coherent programme of works which will reflect the planned multi annual nature of the investment, (subject to budgetary approval), and concentrate on key areas.
The Economic, Enterprise& Tourism SPC met on 13th January and established a working group to consider a number of initiatives in the County, including the Business Support Grant. A full report in this regard will be brought to the Working Group for consideration.