COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF LUCAN/PALMERSTOWN/FONTHILL AREA COMMITTEE
Tuesday, January 28, 2020
QUESTION NO. 13
QUESTION: Councillor Shane Moynihan
To ask the Chief Executive to make a statement on the assistance given by the Local Enterprise Office to businesses in the Lucan and Palmerstown Fonthill electoral areas, and if he will make a statement on the matter.
REPLY:
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 Lucan and Palmerstown Fonthill electoral areas and across the County.
The Local Enterprise Office (LEO) which is based in the County Hall building, provides financial grants, mentoring, training and other supports to assist new and developing micro-enterprises with job creation and sustainment in the County. In 2019, LEO South Dublin approved funding of €€825,520.70 for 28 locally based enterprises creating 52.5 new jobs immediately and the potential to create a further new jobs over the coming years in the area.
The full range of Local Enterprise Office services are available to businesses 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 Sustainable Business Programme operated in partnership with South Dublin Chamber which offers assistance and advice to businesses. A mentoring clinic operates from the Palmerstown Hub facility and there are plans to open a mentoring clinic in Lucan during 2020 as part of our continued expansion of our Mentoring and advisory services.
The LEO is currently planning a full programme of events, workshops and meetings for Local Enterprise Week 2020 which will take place from 2nd – 6th March next at locations across the county. The week’s activities will promote all of our supports and services for enterprise development. Many of these events and workshops are being organised in collaboration other local agencies and service providers including Partas Community Enterprise, South Dublin Community Partnership, our Libraries, South Dublin Business Chamber and TU Dublin.
This co-ordinated approach taken by LEO ensures that every opportunity is taken to create awareness of the supports available to support businesses so that in turn, it will positively impact on job creation in Lucan and Palmerstown Fonthill electoral areas and across the County.
An expanded Business Support Funds (BSF) was agreed by the EETD Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) for 2020 which will build on projects and unit supports in the business parks around Tallaght and across the county and will increase economic activity and support additional local employment. The Shop Front Grant scheme, which will open again for expressions of interest for 2020 is available to all independently owned shop owners to improve their appearance of their shops fronting public streets.
During 2018 the development of a new Innovation Centre for South County Dublin was announced. In 2019 tenders were sought on OJEU and appointments completed for a Project Advisor and Centre Management Team and an Architect-led Design team to deliver and operate this 3500m2 project which will be located on the Technological University – Hospital corridor. The project is currently progressing delivery through Planning and subject to same will progress to construction during 2020.
South Dublin has ambitious plans to become one of the leading locations in Ireland for Innovative and Technology rich firms and the delivery of this ‘flagship facility’ , a very visible hub of innovative business growth, will act as an aspirational ‘landmark’ to students, residents, local and the wider community and become a focal point for driving forward innovation and enterprise activity across the County.
In addition, an initiative from key stakeholders in SDC to create a higher profile for the County in attracting more indigenous and FDI has been in development in partnership with South Dublin Chamber funded under BSF. A county-wide business marketing and promotional plan is currently under development for roll out later in 2020.