COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, February 13, 2017
QUESTION NO.27
QUESTION: Councillor D. Richardson
To ask the manager for an updated report on enterprise parks in the County and if there are any plans to open more up for development of small businesses
REPLY:
The Council has provided/supported enterprise parks/units in Bawnogue, Bolbrook, Brookfield, Killinarden and Neilstown which are managed variously by ACE & Partas through lease arrangements. These areas are intended to provide subsidised space with support services for new and existing start-ups to develop and progress to private industrial areas after 3 to 5 years. The Council's Economic, Enterprise & Tourism Department regularly liaise with the agencies running the enterprise parks on operational, policy and other related issues.
Two specific actions relating to enterprise space in the Dublin Regional Enterprise Strategy 2017-2019 approved by Council in December 2016 will be progressed in conjunction with the Economic SPC over the coming months as follows:
- Conduct a 'census of enterprise space' / 'land availability study' with the purpose of determining the total quantum and type (industrial, retail, office, other niche sectors) of business space available to enterprises and the potential capacity for zoned lands to deliver business space.
- Create an Action Plan to promote, facilitate and incentivise the uptake of vacant and underutilised enterprise space (retail, commercial, industrial, etc.), and to identify and address key infrastructural barriers and increase progression from supported enterprise space.
The census of enterprise space will inform how the Council's Business Support Fund can be best utilised to promote, facilitate and incentivise the uptake of vacant and underutilised enterprise space. There will also be scope for the SPC to examine additional emerging proposals regarding supporting innovation, microenterprise development, incubator space and employment creation through the Business Support Fund as part of the local implementation of the Dublin Regional Enterprise Strategy.