COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, May 11, 2015
QUESTION NO. 13
QUESTION: Councillor C. O'Connor
To ask the CEO to details actions he is taking to improve the image of our industrial estates throughout the county noting the job creation potential in these estates and appreciating that some of the estates need improvement in that regard. Charlie O'Connor
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, particularly in the case of areas which are underutilised with higher rates of vacancy. This issue is also confirmed through parallel research which the Council has been undertaking through analysing rates information and on the ground surveys.
The Council supports the improvement of the image of our industrial estates through a series of practical measures including ongoing mantainence and environmental improvements and a range of targeted capital improvement works. Current planned projects in the Capital programme include the upgrade of the Nangor and the Lucan/Newcastle roads and the development of southern access road to the Cookstown Industrial estate.
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 over and above the BSG individual grants outined above, following discussion at the Economic Development SPC, it has been agreed 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 implementing this policy the Council is committed to working in conjunction with local business in identifying the appropriate economic development investment in the industrial areas in the County. Workshops are being scheduled in this regard.