COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, January 09, 2017
QUESTION NO. 16
QUESTION: Councillor C. O'Connor
To ask the Chief Executive to confirm his plans to create further employment throughout our County in 2017 and will he detail contacts he proposes to maintain with Government and State Agencies and will he present a full report in the matter.
REPLY:
The South Dublin Local Economic and Community Plan 2016 – 2021 includes a series of economic objectives each of which identifies target actions and the key stakeholders involved. These actions are aimed at putting the appropriate infrastructure, enterprise and employment supports in place to improve the level and quality of economic activity in the County. An update on progress on the economic elements of the LECP was presented to the September 2016 Economic Development, Enterprise and Tourism SPC Meeting.
Our Local Enterprise Office (LEO) provides financial grants, mentoring, training and other supports to assist new and developing micro-enterprises with job creation and sustainment in the Tallaght area and throughout the County. In 2016, LEO South Dublin has approved funding of €583,250 for 35 projects in 2016 creating 42 new jobs immediately and with the potential to create a total of 167 new jobs. There have also been 685 training participants and 414 mentoring sessions/assignments in 2016. These supports will continue in 2017 to ensure new and existing local microenterprises are assisted in developing their businesses and sustaining/creating local employment.
LEO is also working with relevant local agencies including South Dublin Chamber, Institute of Technology Tallaght, Synergy, Partas, South Dublin County Partnership and others to ensure a co-ordinated approach to the actions which can impact on job creation in the County.
The Council's 2016 Budget provided for the expansion of the Business Support Funds through a range of supports specifically aimed at at increasing occupancy and activity in industrial areas to increase economic activity and support additional local employment. Works are now complete in Cookstown and Old Belgard Road under the Industrial Areas Improvement Scheme through this fund with further possible projects being explored across industrial areas in the County. In addition to the Business Support Grant, there are over 40 applications currently being progressed across the County under the Individual Unit Support Scheme and the Microenterprise Development Scheme which will directly help local small businesses in sustaining and creating employment.
The Council has also adopted the Dublin Regional Enterprise Strategy 2017-2019 along with the other Dublin Local Authorities and this identifies opportunities to maximise the promotion and development of enterprise across the Dublin region. The next Economic, Enterprise & Tourism Strategy Policy Committee meeting will fully local implementation of this strategy with specific emphasis on job creation, enterprise opportunities and skills requirements in South Dublin.
The Council is also a key partner in the Dublin Action Plan for Jobs 2016-2018 which aims to realise the full jobs potential of the Dublin region by stimulating enterprise and growth using the collaborative strengths of the region. We are working with various national, regional and local partners to ensure that this impacts on Tallaght and across the County. The inaugural meeting of the Implementation Committee for the DAPJ 2016-2018 was held on Monday 19th September in Fingal County Council and work is progressing on the various cross-agency initiatives and commitments contained in the Action Plan.