COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, June 08, 2015

MOTION NO.8

MOTION: Councillor C. O'Connor

That this Council calls on the Government to prioritise the South Dublin County Council administrative area for job creation initiatives noting the particular need to deal with unemployment throughout the county including the major population areas of Clondalkin, Lucan, Greenhills, Rathfarnham and the county town of Tallaght.

REPORT:

This council is committed to supporting and promoting job creation throughout the County this has included the development of a county economic strategy, jobs strategy and Local enterprise office. South Dublin County Council has and continues to actively support all Government initiatives to support job creation within the County. The development of Grange Castle Business Park in conjunction with IDA is a key example of the Councils commitment to job creation in the County.

In practical terms this has also included:

• The County Jobs strategy, which has been revised, sets out a range of key practical measures that this Council is undertaking to support and create jobs in this County.
• The Local Enterprise Office (LEO) South Dublin was set up in April 2014 under a Service Level Agreement (SLA) between the Council and Enterprise Ireland.  Under the terms of this SLA, the LEO is in constant contact with the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and Enterprise Ireland, including on matters of policy formation both nationally and specifically relating to South Dublin.  In addition, there are separate protocols in place at national level to enhance the existing relationships between LEOs (including LEO South Dublin) and Department of Social Protection, the Revenue Commissioners and Failte Ireland.  New protocols are currently being developed with a number of other agencies. 
• The Council was centrally involved in the funding and construction of five new enterprise centres throughout the county, including three in the Tallaght area which are under the management of Partas. The Council continues to give active support to these centres. 
• Active support is given to supporting job activation measures.
• The Local Economic Community Plan will be formulated in the coming year as part of the LCDC process.It is now currently on public consulation. This statutory plan will develop policies to support improved opportunity for economic development and employment in South Dublin County.As part of this process there will be consultation with economic stakeholders which will include relevant Government Departments and state agencies including the IDA and Enterprise Ireland. This consultation will take place during next year.

• 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.)
  • Enterprise week was facilitated by the LEO from 11th - 15th May with almost 500 attendees at events.

  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

  South Dublin County Council is committed through a wide range of measures and polices to support the creation and maintianence of jobs in South Dublin County.