COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE
Monday, January 25, 2016
QUESTION NO. 10
QUESTION: Councillor C. O'Connor
"To ask the Chief Executive to detail contacts he has made with outside bodies and agencies regarding the potential to attract visitors to Tallaght in this calendar year of commemorations and will he confirm actions open to him in that regard?"
REPLY:
South Dublin County Council launched its County Centenary Programme on the 2nd December 2015. The programme includes full details of events in the county by area and any partners/other agencies involved in the events/initiatives for 2016. Copies of the programme are available in County Hall, Tallaght, Civic Offices, Clondalkin and Library Branches throughout the county. The programme is also available on the council website www.sdcc.ie. In addition the programme is also being promoted on the Ireland 2016 national website at http://www.ireland.ie/partners/south-dublin-county
From a tourims perspective, South Dublin County Council is working with Fáilte Ireland to explore opportunities to attract visitors to both Tallaght and the wider South Dublin County. Initiatives have included the establishment and distribution of a quarterly Tourism e-zine, the dissemination of information on workshops and seminars to assist service providers in the tourism industry to network and attract visitors in their own right, and have facilitated a Fáilte Ireland project with google to capture various sites around the Dublin Mountains that have to date not been highlighted on “Streetview”.
South Dublin County Council have partnered with Fáilte Ireland and IPB Insurance over the past few years to offer the Community Tourism Diaspora Project. Last year the project provided funding to 3 events which brought in an estimated 375 overseas visitors to South Dublin County. The council expect a similar number of overseas visitors for 2016. The Council’s County Promotion Unit have initiated a process to develop a Tourism Marketing and Branding Plan to assist in marketing the county to visitors, both domestic and overseas. A new tourism website will be developed following the completion of that process. This website will showcase the accommodation and food offerings in the County among other attractions. The Economic, Enterprise and Tourism Development Department will be engaging with the hotel sector on this aspect in 2016.
South Dublin Council is working closely with Coilte to ascertain the feasibility of developing a flagship visitor interpretation facility of regional significance for the Dublin mountains which, if deemed feasible, will improve the offering to visitors and provide a gateway to visitors to the Dublin Mountains. A further reason to visit South Dublin County will occur once construction of the Round Tower visitor centre at Clondalkin is completed. This development will dovetail with the Grand Canal Greeway allowing for visitors to cycle from Dublin city to this site of immense historical importance. Other initiatives in train to attract visitors to South Dublin County include providing extra support to the Red Line Book Festival in order to develop this festival into one of national note.
Visitors to Tallaght Town Centre now have wayfinding and heritage related signage available to orientate them across the village centre. These signs also bring to life the online heritage trails developed by South Dublin Libraries. Further wayfinding signage will be developed across other villages within the County over the next few years. The County Promotion Unit are trialing a visitor information stand initiative across a number of sites in the County where visitors can pick up tourism related brochures produced by services providers based in the County. The County Promotion Unit have made contact with adjoining local authorities to explore the option of a coordinated approach in terms of enhancing tourism offering along the River Liffey. Further cross county cooperation is facilitating the development of the Dodder Greenway project which will connect the mountains to the sea for walking and cycling tourism. Opportunities to connect to amenities in local villages along the route will be optimised to bring economic benefits to local businesses.
The County promotion Unit and the Economic, Enterprise and Tourism Development Department will continue to work with stakeholders to identify further opportunities to attract visitors, both domestic and overseas, to South Dublin County.