COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

QUESTION NO. 2

QUESTION: Councillor F. Timmons

"To ask the Chief Executive to issue a report on what measures are been taken to improve economic development in the Clondalkin area, to include any plans for signage and advertisement of Clondalkin as an attractive economic hub?"

REPLY:

As the area committee members will be aware the Council works with all stakeholders to maximise business investment in the County including the Clondalkin area, both indigenous and foreign direct investment.

In the first instance South Dublin County Council has sought to support existing business particularly through a range of initiatives,

• The Sustainable Business Executive who is employed in conjunction with South Dublin Chamber to work with local business on sustainability issues,
• 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.)
• Shop Front grant scheme, introduced in 2014 to encourage the improvement of our towns and villages, including Clondalkin. A number of shops in Clondalkin have applied this year and their applications are being considered.

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, start-up advice and supports including potential incubation space
•   10%- targeted training, to be identified by targeted surveys and delivered through LEO.

Work is ongoing through the Economic Development, Enterprise and Tourism SPC to identify and progress improvement projects, including in the Clondalkin area.

Regarding foreign direct investment, we fully support the efforts of the IDA to encourage and facilitate foreign companies to locate in South Dublin County, particularly in Grange Castle Business Park, but also in the other Business Parks in the Clondalkin and the wider County. Grange Castle is marketed by the IDA as an international Business Park of regional and national importance. The success of the policy is demonstrated in that the zoned lands are substantially now built out, with significant projects currently under construction in the Park by Google, Microsoft and Griffols. There are regular contacts from itineraries to the Park in relation to the remaining sites, (c 10 visits during June - December 2014), and the most recent client was the disposal to Interexion approved at the December meeting.

As set out in the Business Support Programme and report to CPG each month business supports in the County range from the physical development of business related infrastructure in the County to pre-planning meetings on emerging projects. Activity in this regard includes:

• The Council supported a Chamber trade mission to Manchester in May 2014
• In October 2014 the Council sponsored a commercial property expo in Tallaght Stadium to showcase commercial development opportunities in the County, including Clondalkin.
• The Economic Survey carried out in conjunction with the Chamber during Summer 2014 will enable the identification of clusters of business type and activity for targeted interventions in the future.
• Work on revsied promtional material to support the marketing of  Grangecastle International Business park is at an advanced stage, this includes a new promotional video and supporting material. This work will inform wider County promotional projects to support inward investment and maintain existing business within the County.  Signage will be considered in the context of the village improvement scheme.

Initiatives of this nature will continue to be rolled out in 2015.