COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE
Monday, December 17, 2018
QUESTION NO. 3
QUESTION: Councillor C. O'Connor
"To ask the Chief Executive to confirm his plans to attract new jobs to Tallaght during 2019 appreciating that the job creation needs of this major population centre deserves priority attention; will he give details of contacts he proposes to make in that regards 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 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 2018, to date, LEO South Dublin approved funding of €210,750 for 7 Tallaght based enterprises creating 18 new jobs immediately and with the potential to create a further 44 new jobs over the next three years in the area.
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. As part of this LEO will be holding a Local Enterprise Week from 4th to 8th March to highlight the various initiatives and supports available to support local job creation and business development with many of the events to be held in Tallaght in partnership with the various enterprise support and development agencies operating in the area. Full details of the week will be available at www.localenterprise.ie/SouthDublin in early Januray 2019.
The Council's 2019 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 November 2018 Economic Development, Enterprise and 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 2019 local implementation plan for the Strategy will be provided to the EETD SPC with 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.
The Council has been a key partner in the Dublin Action Plan for Jobs 2016-2018 and the proposed successor plan The Regional Enterprise Action Plan to 2020 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."