COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE

Monday, April 27, 2015

QUESTION NO.10

QUESTION: Councillor D. Richardson

"To ask the Chief Executive for a report regarding an update on Cookstown Industrial Estate.This estate has become run down and has not attracted new business into the area. What as a Council is been done to attract business in to the area?"     

REPLY:

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 such as parts of Cookstown Industrial Estate. This issue is also confirmed through parallel research which the Council has been undertaking through analysing rates information and on the ground surveys. 

In the first instance South Dublin County Council has sought to support existing business particularly through two key initiatives,

• The Sustainable Business Executive who is employed in conjunction with South Dublin Chamber to work with local business on sustainability issues, and
• the Business Support Grant (BSG) and related business supports, introduced in the 2014 budget based on the rationale that c1% of rates paid would be ringfenced to directly support business. (This is subject to the continued budgetary approval by the Elected Members.)

The primary operation of the BSG is a direct grant to eligible businesses with a rateable value of under €10,000. The Elected members set aside €880,000 for this grant in the adopted 2015 budget. In the 2014 budget €1.2m was similarly allocated.

With respect to the additional funding from the BSG, as agreed, they will be used to target industrial vacancy/underutilisation and obsolescence and to promote innovation and enterprise, on a percentage breakdown of -

•   60%- infrastructural upgrading works to be of a capital nature.
•   30%- innovation, startup advice and supports including potential incubation space
•   10%- targeted training, to be identified by targeted surveys and delivered through LEO

In relation to Cookstown Industrial Estate the Council has embarked on a number of practical supports:

• Direct engagement has been established and is ongoing with a group of industrial occupiers within the estate with a view to establishing a programme of upgrades which will support economic development.
• Preparation of plans for the upgrading the Old Belgard Road entrance to Cookstown and to improve the permeability with the Cookstown LUAS station is being undertaken.
• Included in the capital programme is the development of a road link from Belgard Square North adjacent to the exchange building to improve access to the southern part of the industrial area where the highest concentration of underutilisation exists. Work is ongoing on this matter.

In addition to the above, the Council is, in general, committed to supporting economic development proposals in the Cookstown Industrial area, which centrally located and very accessible by a range of transport modes. 

It would be welcomed if business interests in the Cookstown Estate either wish to work through the South Dublin Chamber or contact the Economic, Enterprise and Tourism Development Department directly.