COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ENTERPRISE AND TOURISM SPC

Wednesday, September 09, 2015

HEADED ITEM NO. 5

HEADED ITEM: E. Development, Enterprise and Tourism

LECP- Update and circulation of draft economic objectives

REPORT:

Goal1: Maintain and develop existing enterprise to support and improve the economic infrastructure of South Dublin County

 

Key Issues

Within South Dublin County there are 6,823 business entities employing almost 78,000 people within 4800 operational business premises. From the South Dublin Economic profile 2014 the key existing business categories in the County are Retail, Transport and Distribution, Professional and Financial services industry and manufacturing. In terms of employee size over 80% of firms in the County have 20 or less employee’s making the SME sector the largest single proportion of business in the County. There are however a number of large industrial employers such as Pfizer, Irish Distillers and SAP.

Arising from the County Economic Profile, consultation and research undertaken in developing the LECP, there are a number of key objectives that will be pursued to support and develop existing enterprise.

• There are a number of economic character areas within South Dublin County. These are Technology Crescent; Rail Corridor; Tallaght; Luas Corridor; Towns and Villages. They represent areas of similar economic activity. Building on the County Economic profile and previous 2012 economic strategy the development of a marketing strategy which will include Unique Development/ Selling Points for each character area and the development of an appropriate suite of information material is required to be undertaken. This will enhance available information and further develop a focus on local business and the particular benefits of locating in each area.
• In conjunction with the development and rollout of a marketing strategy there are two complementing programmes
• The identification of key infrastructure supports for individual character areas
• Supporting and developing local business collaboration networks based on the networks developed as part of the Business support grant initiative to better understanding local business needs.
• Collaboration with third level institutions is a key element in fostering improved economic development. With the Institute of Technology Tallaght in the process of incorporating into the Dublin Technical university and the Ryan Institute’s close connections with Dublin City University there is significant opportunity to build on the existing collaboration network to support improved services and linkages to wider business community and to develop incubation space/ step up space and campus company development based on key areas of activity such as food and tourism development.
• As part of the work of the LEO establish a register of potential business and service opportunities – as a starting point for potential entrepreneurs looking for ideas.
• While agriculture as an employer is relatively small in South Dublin, given the County’s location on Dublin’s Doorstep and building on the County tourism strategy there is an opportunity for the Council to actively support the development of sustainable rural/ outdoor tourism product development and support the development of locally produced and grown food production particularly through links with local restaurants and niche retailing.

Objective	Action	Timeline	Collaborators	Target for 2016
Support the development of development   plans for enterprise Character areas.	Develop   marketing strategy for Enterprise Character areas.	2017	LEO, South Dublin Chamber, SDCC	Develop marketing   strategy. Establish   work programme
	Develop a suite of appropriate information to   support and entice national and local business to locate and grow in the County	2016	LEO, South   Dublin Chamber, SDCC	Establish and   populate database of relevant information.
Develop and support models of collaboration between   existing business	Build and develop the sustaining business programme   in conjunction with South Dublin Chamber and LEO	Ongoing	South Dublin   Chamber, LEO, Council	Maintain   programme, focus on exporters
	Develop an opportunities register of those looking   to start and develop small business within the County
Work with   local and regional third level institutes to develop opportunities for   company start-ups	Develop an enhanced collaboration between the third   level institutes, Synergy centre, South Dublin Chamber and LEO to identify   and support a programme supports for start-up and step up business.	2017	ITT, Ryan   Institute, Synergy, South Dublin Chamber, LEO	Develop model   for identifying (A) Physical location for start-up, step up facility and (B)   pipeline of suitable tenant’s.
Support the   development of outdoor and rural enterprise.	Develop a programme to support tourism product development   in conjunction with Failte Ireland	Ongoing	Council, LEO,   Failte Ireland	Identify   tourism product within the County and potential for development based on   tourism strategy focus. Develop suite   of soft business supports for tourism companies in conjunction with Failte   Ireland
	Seek to develop links between local food producers   and local restaurants and food retailers.	ongoing	LEO, Chamber,   Bord BIA	Identify   linkage between food producers and local retailers.

Goal 2: Transform older industrial areas into high quality centres for enterprise,

Key Issues

South Dublin County has a range of older industrial estates which are in need of regeneration and renewal. An analysis of the rates database and the County economic profile reveals that particular areas of the County have relatively high vacancy rates of approx. 30%, including Cookstown, parts of Ballymount and in the vicinity of the Nangor Road . These areas are older industrial areas, from the 1960’s, ‘70’s and early ‘80’s. They are spatially well located and serviced and have a high potential to be re-developed making good use of existing zoned, serviced land and enhancing the further consolidation of the built area.

Arising from the County Economic Profile; consultation undertaken as part of the LECP development process and the collaboration work already underway as part of the Business Support Grant initiative there are a number of key objectives to be pursued;

• The need to develop and maintain an understanding of the issues faced by Business in these areas through the development of networks and to identify specific infrastructure opportunities and deficits;

• Support upgrade and redevelopment opportunities particularly the promotion of start-up/ step-up facilities and to identify and promote the development of improved infrastructure that will support the redevelopment of these well located but underutilised areas.

Objective	Action	Timeline	Collaborators	Target for 2016
Develop network of businesses within   older industrial areas.	Develop   network of firms based on the rollout of the Business support grant supports.	ongoing	LEO, South Dublin Chamber, identified local   business	Establish pilot   network in Cookstwon and JFK areas
	Identify key issues facing business in older   industrial estates	ongoing	LEO, South   Dublin Chamber, identified local business	Identify initial   programme based on established BSG programme
Identify   opportunities for the development of start-up/ step up facilities.	Develop existing collaboration model between LEO,   Chamber, local third level institutes and partnership to identify location for start   up/ Step-up facility(s)	ongoing	LEO, South   Dublin Chamber, Partnership, Third Level institute’s ( ITT, Ryan Institute,   Synergy)	Identify   potential location for initial start-up/ step-facility. Scope out physical   requirements Identify and   establish management structure
Identify   specific infrastructural supports for re-development of older industrial   areas	Identify key existing infrastructure within Older   industrial estates.	ongoing	South Dublin County   Council, Service providers, South Dublin Chamber	Map existing   services within older industrial areas   with above average vacancy rates, JFK, Cookstwon, Ballymount.
	Identify key infrastructure development   opportunities particularly power and telecoms facilities
Encourage and   promote programme of physical supports for the improvement of older   industrial areas	Build on work carried out for Business support grant	ongoing	South Dublin   County Council, South Dublin Chamber	Identify   rolling programme of key physical interventions required.
	Work with local business to identify key   interventions required.	ongoing

Goal 3: Strengthen the economic fabric of our towns and villages

 

Key Issues

South Dublin County has a range of villages and towns which are key to supporting ongoing economic and community development. Arising from the County Economic Profile 2014 retailing has been identified as the largest single economic activity in the County. In particular a key area is the support of niche retailing, particularly within our towns and villages.

Arising from the County Tourism strategy developed in 2015, our towns and villages have been identified as key to the development of and enhancement of our tourism product. In supporting economic development within our towns and villages the development of tourism product as a key intervention.

Support permeability and wider improvements to mobility plans and smart travel initiatives

• Develop models of co-operation and support for      retailing within the County, particularly in towns and villages- Village      initiative, Shop Front grant, Way finding strategy.
• Support the development of tourism initiatives within      the County arising from the County tourism strategy
• Consider particular supports for larger retailing      centres within the County
• Arts / Crafts / Tourism centres

Objective	Action	Timeline	Collaborators	Target for 2016
Develop and maintain communication   channels with local retail/ business	Identify key   supports required by retailers	Ongoing	Chamber, LEO, Local retailers	Establish   pilot programme with a niche retail sector. Investigate   the development of an online platform for promoting local retail
	Develop support network for local retailers
Support the   rollout of the South Dublin County Tourism Strategy	Support identified tourist product development	ongoing	South Dublin   County Council, South Dublin Chamber, Failte Ireland, Tourism Implementation   group	Establish   programme for rollout of village wayfinding signage. Install new signage in   villages. Develop   pilot heritage trail in Tallaght Identify and   support development of festival with regional draw.
	Rollout County wayfinding strategy Initiate heritage village trails
Support a   marketing strategy for key villages within the County	Develop unique character for each village, particularly   for niche retailing		South Dublin   County Council, South Dublin Chamber	Identify   marketing provider to develop marketing programme
	Develop and support village improvements			Continue shop   front grant Identify   wi-fi improvements Continue to   develop round tower and Dublin Mountain flagship projects.

Goal 4: Develop new and existing enterprises with significant employment, capital, income or growth potential

Key Issues

South Dublin County has a strong track record for attracting and developing large scale inward investment projects. While examples of large scale inward investment are located throughout the County there is a clear cluster particularly located in City West Business Park and Grange Castle International Business Park, which is owned and managed by South Dublin County Council.

With respect to large scale inward investment projects there are a number of key physical requirements, serviced site availability, power availability and accessibility to a large pool of potential employees being the most important. South Dublin is well situated to attract such mobile investment projects given its location as part of the Dublin region, excellent links to the Dublin Port/ Airport, the rest of the Country and the proximate availability of a large well educated workforce and service connections.

However with respect to large serviced site availability, in the order of 40acres, (the size needed by a large bio-pharma/ high tech manufacturing facility) there are limited sites available both regionally and within South Dublin County. In order to for the County and Region to compete at a global scale for these types of major inward investment developments consideration needs to be given to the identification of appropriate sites and to develop a sustainable[CR-P1]  model for their servicing and bringing to the market. This is a key economic development policy as it meets with an identified national/ regional need and builds on the already successful collaboration that is in place between South Dublin County Council and the IDA as evidenced by the successful ongoing development of Grange Castle International Business Park.

In supporting and developing existing and new large scale industrial development South Dublin County Council in conjunction with South Dublin Chamber will work with companies to support their location in the County. A key objective will be the development of a marketing and information pack that sets out the key attractive features of the County from a business point of view.

The Council will continue to be proactive in supporting necessary infrastructure that supports economic development within the County and will continue to facilitate pre-planning meetings to advise on future economic development proposals.

Objective	Action	Timeline	Collaborators	Target for 2016
Support initiatives to improve the   availability of services site availability for large inward investment   projects	Identify   serviced land priorities	Ongoing	South Dublin County Council, IDA	Plan for the   continued development of Grangecastle
	Further develop Grange Castle Business Park
Continue to   develop and improve dedicated marketing strategy to attract large scale   inward investment projects	Build on Grangecastle marketing information	Ongoing	South Dublin   County Council, IDA	Enhance and   expand Council Business pages on Website and related promotional material
Identify and   support improved infrastructure required to support large scale inward   investment projects	Develop a detailed understanding of infrastructure   needs of large inward investment projects.   Work with service providers to meet identified needs.	Ongoing	South Dublin   County Council, IDA, Service providers	Support 220kv   upgrade. Examine   development options for Grangecastle and environs
Support the   development of improved links between local third level institutions and   large local employers	Develop network between major employers and third   level institutions.	Ongoing	South Dublin   County Council, South Dublin Chamber, Third level institutions.	Identify   participants in network and establish pilot network group.

Goal 5: Improve the quality and diversity of employment in the County

Key Issues

There is a wide range of employment types with South Dublin County. Based on the census key areas for employment include retailing, transportation and distribution, industry and manufacturing and professional and financial services.

A key economic requirement is the need to develop and maintain employment within the County. Key to this is the ongoing support for developing appropriate skills that can facilitate employment. This is not just for those seeking employment but also for those in employment.

In conjunction with the governments jobs strategy South Dublin County Council has put in place a jobs strategy which will continue to be actively pursed. It is envisaged that the regional jobs strategy will be drafted in late 2015/early 2016. South Dublin will be active in its development and build on the work already underway.

There are a number of key objectives to be pursed as part of this high level goal;

• In conjunction with South Dublin Chamber South Dublin County Council has undertaken economic profile for the County. Arising from this was the need to improve training within existing business to support their ongoing development was identified. A more focused survey has been undertaken (2015) of existing business to identify key training needs. The results of which will allow for the development of a training programme that will be facilitated through South Dublin LEO. The ongoing development and support of targeted training supports for existing business will be a key objective of the LECP.

• Building on the foundation of the Economic Profile and training profile, a further key focus will be the development of targeted supports for exporting companies. Just over 20% of companies in South Dublin export mainly to the UK. Through targeted training and networking supports it is envisaged that the level of exports from the County will increase and build on the successful trade mission undertaken in conjunction with the South Dublin Chamber to Manchester.

• With local third level institutions in the County including the Ryan Institute and Synergy centre, further collaboration will be undertaken to identify and supports direct links between third level institutes and business in the County, particularly to identify existing and future training needs and develop local entrepreneurship . In particular a focus will be developed in the areas of food and tourism supports.

Objective	Action	Timeline	Collaborators	Target for 2016
Support the development and rollout of   a Regional Jobs Strategy for Dublin	Actively   support development of regional jobs strategy	ongoing	South Dublin County Council, LEO Dept. Jobs   & Enterprise	Input and   support the development of a regional jobs strategy
Develop a   training programme based on the needs of local employers	Identify training needs. Develop mechanism for delivery	ongoing	LEO, South   Dublin Chamber, Local business	Develop and   rollout training programme based on 2015 survey results.
Develop   training supports to enhance and   develop exporting companies within the County	Identify particular supports for exporting   companies. Develop network to support exporting companies   within the County	ongoing	LEO, South   Dublin Chamber, Local exporters	Survey   exporting companies to identify future training needs
Work with   local stakeholders to promote upskilling of local workforce.	Identify particular skill deficits.	ongoing	LEO, South   Dublin Chamber, ITT, Solas, Social Enterprise centres	Identify programme   to tackle skill deficits.

Goal 6: Actively engage with other Authorities and Agencies in the continued economic development of the Dublin region.

Key Issues

South Dublin is an integral part of the Dublin metropolitan area. The economy of South Dublin is heavily integrated into that of the wider Dublin region with significant flows of workers both into and out of the County. At the last census 42,500 enter the County for employment while circa 70,000 commute out of the County mainly to the City centre.

South Dublin has a number of key enterprise locations which are integral to the wider regional and national economy including Grangecastle International Business Park and Citywest.

To continue to operate in an effective national and regional manner South Dublin needs to focus on three key areas;

• Support the continued collaboration with other agencies and authorities particularly the IDA and Enterprise Ireland. This builds on existing models of collaboration particularly in relation to the success of GrangeCastle International Business Park and the Local Enterprise Office.

With respect to the IDA the focus of collaboration would be to identify key sites to be made available for inward investment throughout the County and to co-ordinate their marketing and servicing. Consideration of the needs for future envisaged target sectors for FDI would also form part of this work programme.

In relation to the IDA the focus is on supporting existing and new smaller business and to explore areas of collaboration and support particularly through the LEO

• Support the identification and development of regional infrastructure provision.

A key component in attracting and supporting economic activity is the availability of necessary services. Given the scale of economic activity there are a number of key infrastructural projects that are required at a regional level. Through the LECP support will be given to their delivery.

• There is an existing successful model of collaboration with South Dublin County between economic actors and state agencies including South Dublin County Council. To support economic development and to develop models of collaboration active support will be given to the development of regional economic data with the other Dublin Local Authorities and the development of regional economic for a in conjunction with the Regional Authority.

 

Objective	Action	Timeline	Collaborators	Target for 2016
Support the   continued collaboration with other agencies and authorities to develop and   support economic enterprise	Continue to   develop and deepen collaboration with the IDA	ongoing	IDA	Develop   protocols for identifying key inward development site size and location.   Continue   to develop and enhance the marketing   of GrangeCastle Business Park to prospective clients
	Continue to   develop and deepen collaboration with EI	ongoing	EI	Develop   and expand models of collaboration with EI
Support the   identification and development of Key regional infrastructure provision	Work with state agencies to support business case   for delivery of key infrastructure	Ongoing	Irish water Eirgrid Other Dublin   Authorities NTA NRA	Identify   key regional infrastructure requirements.

Goal 7: Develop micro enterprise, community economic development and start-ups.

 

Key Issues

 

There is a wide and diverse range of micro enterprise, community enterprise and new start-ups within South County Dublin. They range from hi-tech start-ups to a diverse and active range of local enterprises. The County has a wide range of active support structures that assist these enterprise in starting and developing. For micro enterprises the Local Enterprise Office (LEO) is a key agent in their support and development. South Dublin partnership, Action Clondalkin Enterprise and Partais are a key actors in supporting and foster community economic development and social entrepreneurship in the County.

Key objective areas for this goal are:

Support the ongoing development of the South Dublin LEO as a first stop shop for the development of enterprise within the County.

Support and develop a network for the development of community economic development within the County.

Objective	Action	Timeline	Collaborators	Target for 2016
Support the ongoing development of the   South Dublin LEO as a first stop shop for the development of enterprise   within the County.	To support   the development of start-up and small business expansion in the County	Ongoing	Enterprise   Ireland, South Dublin chamber, LEO.	Develop a   County Enterprise strategy for South Dublin County. Develop a training   support programme based on the 2015 business survey. Maximise the take   of allocated funding measures under measure one and two programmes.
	To maximise the development of enterprise in South   Dublin
Support and develop a network   for the development of community economic development within the County.	Identify key actors to be included in network.   Develop programme of work	ongoing	LCDC, LEO,   Social enterprise centre’s, chamber	Establish a   network and develop programme of work.
Support the   development of a network for the promotion of social entrepreneurship in the County.	Identify key actors to be included in network.		LCDC, LEO,   Social enterprise centre’s, chamber, Social Entrepreneurs	Establish   network of stakeholders

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