COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF ENVIRONMENT, PUBLIC REALM AND CLIMATE CHANGE SPC

Wednesday, September 23, 2020

HEADED ITEM NO. 9

HEADED ITEM: M. McAdam

Chair's Business; Commercial Rates, consideration whereby any future increase in Commercial Rates may be offset with rewards for small businesses for Environmental Activities.

REPLY:

The Climate Action & Environmental Awareness Office, with funding from the Climate Action Innovation Fund, is working on a pilot project to establish a Sustainable Business Network in South Dublin. We will be recruiting up to 20 SMEs who are interested in finding out more about their impact on climate change and identify ways to reduce costs. Businesses who are interested in joining the network will receive support and a resource efficiency assessment to identify areas they can reduce their impact on the environment and save money.   

Additionally, the SDCC Local Enterprise Office (LEO) would be in a position to discuss any proposals regarding  commercial rates movements and indeed incentives for Environmental activities.

There are some grant supports available from Enterprise which can be accessed via the LEO, namely the Green Enterprise Fund and Modis.

it is proposed to examine options on providing incentives to small businesses to implement sustainable business policies in return for a rebate against any potential increase in Rates.

One such option under consideration is to create a pilot project to work closely with up to 20 small businesses from within the county.