COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, October 23rd, 2017

QUESTION NO. 14

QUESTION: Councillor C. O'Connor

To ask the Chief Executive to present a report on his ongoing endeavours to promote the job creation needs of our County; will he outline contacts he has had with state agencies in respect of the matter and will he make a statement.

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 May 2017 Economic Development, Enterprise & Tourism SPC Meeting. A further report in this regard will be provided by the end of 2017.

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 County. To date in 2017, LEO South Dublin has approved funding of €678,939 for 26 projects creating 41 new jobs immediately and with the potential to create over 200 new jobs. There have also been over 500 training participants (including our Business Support Fund training programme in conjunction with South Dublin Chamber) and more than 200 mentoring sessions/assignments so far this year. These supports will continue throughout 2017 and again in 2018 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, South Dublin County Partnership, Enterprise Ireland and others to ensure a co-ordinated approach to the actions which can impact on job creation in the County.

The Council's 2017 Budget provided for the continuation of the Business Support Funds through a range of supports specifically aimed at increasing occupancy and activity in industrial areas to increase economic activity and support additional local employment. A full report on the Business Support Fund and its future direction was provided to the September 2017 Economic Development, Enterprise & Tourism SPC Meeting.

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 February 2017 Economic Development,, Enterprise & Tourism SPC Meetings approved a detailed local implementation plan for the Strategy with specific emphasis on initiatives for job creation, enterprise opportunities and skills requirements in South Dublin in partnership with various regional partners and state agencies. This implementation plan is ongoing and a full report will be provided to the SPC at year end.

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 our County.   The 3rd meeting of the Implementation Committee for the DAPJ 2016-2018 was held on Tuesday 27th June in Dublin City Council and detailed the progress on work on the various cross-agency initiatives and commitments contained in the Action Plan. A full report on progress under DAPJ for the first half of 2017 is currently being prepared by all partners to the action plan.