COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF LUCAN AREA COMMITTEE
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
MOTION NO. 15
MOTION: Councillor G. O'Connell
"This Committee wishes to complement the Council and in particular the County Architect, Eddie Conroy, for the work to date in relation to the Palmerstown and Lucan Villages initiatives. It also requests, given the demise of a number of businesses in Palmerstown Village, that it be included in the Councils proposed commercial regeneration programme."
REPORT:
Palmerstown Village is included in the 9 traditional villages of South Dublin County Council identified for the Villages Initiative. This is a programme of design and works intended to improve the villages in social, economical and environmental performance. It is intended to confirm these villages as the centres of their adjoining communities by improving connectivity, permeability and way-finding signage, increasing football and activity in each.
With respect to supporting business, 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. It should also be noted that the Council will be relaunching the shop front scheme over the coming months, to assist shop owners in improving their businesses. work with respect to maintaining and improving Palmerstown village is ongoing.