COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE

Monday, April 23, 2018

MOTION NO. 4

MOTION: Councillor C. O'Connor

"That this Tallaght Area Committee calls on the Chief Executive to confirm actions he is taking to attract new employment opportunities to Tallaght detailing contacts he has made with government, state agencies and local organisations in the matter; will he appreciate the importance of the issue and will he make a statement."

REPORT:

"The importance of  continued employment creation in Tallaght as the County town is a key objective of the Council and this is supported by a range of actions and objectives:

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 Tallaght and across the County.

The 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. In 2017, LEO South Dublin approved funding of more than €330k for 10 Tallaght based enterprises creating 22 new jobs immediately and with the potential to create a further 110 new jobs over the following three years in the area. Two further projects in Tallaght have been approved for total funding of €88,400 to date in 2018, supporting 7 jobs initially with the potential for more in the coming years.

The full range of Local Enterprise Office services are available to businesses in Tallaght and across the County to support both job creation and business development and these include financial assistance, export supports, trading online vouchers, training, mentoring and other advisory services along with the while the Sustainable Business Programme in partnership with South Dublin Chamber which offers assistance and advice to businesses.

LEO is also working with relevant local agencies including South Dublin Chamber, Institute of Technology Tallaght, South Dublin County Partnership, Enterprise Ireland, Partas and others to ensure a co-ordinated approach to the actions which can impact on job creation in Tallaght and across the County.

The Council's 2018 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 and further initiatives under the fund will be continue to be guided by the SPC.

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 Council is a key partner in the Dublin Action Plan for Jobs 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 Implementation Committee for the DAPJ 2016-2018 is next scheduled to meet on 11th May 2018 to develop actions to continue the work of the DPAJ up to 2020.

The February 2018 EETD SPC meeting approved the 2018 Local Enterprise Development Plan with a range of measures to meet objectives and commitments including:

This includes specific emphasis on initiatives for job creation, enterprise opportunities and skills requirements in Tallaght and across South Dublin in partnership with various regional partners and state agencies.

A report on the draft findings of a recently commissioned Feasibility Study on Enterprise Space Development in the County was presented to the Council meeting in April and this has short-listed Tallaght as one of two options for the development of new enterprise/innovation space in the County. This will be explored further with the Economic Development, Enterprise & Tourism SPC over the coming weeks. The Council is also supporting the redevelopment of Bolbrook Enterprise Centre by Partas, a project that has received funding approval from Enterprise Ireland’s Regional Enterprise Development Fund.

These projects both have the potential to deliver significant job creation in Tallaght and the County as a whole and will complement ongoing engagement by the Council's Economic Development team with IDA, Enterprise Ireland and business to deliver continued investment in the area from both large indigenous and foreign multi-national companies."