COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE

Monday, November 23, 2020

QUESTION NO. 15

QUESTION: Councillor C. O'Connor

"To ask the Chief Executive to detail efforts he is making to support businesses in the Tallaght area through these difficult times?"

REPLY:

LEO South Dublin has been and continues to work with the business owners of Micro and Small enterprises who have been impacted by COVID 19 in the Tallaght area and right across the county.

The key direct supports include Re-start Grant/ Restart Plus Grants, Business Continuity Vouchers and Trading Online Vouchers. Mentoring and Training Supports (virtual) have and continue to be offered plus support for all businesses applying for Microfinance Loan facilities. 

LEO are currently offering free Customs Workshops and one to one Brexit Mentoring (again Virtual) to any businesses impacted by Brexit.

The Council Budget also provide for the Business Support Funds (BSF) scheme which include four funds which are targeted to address key issues in industrial areas in the County namely

• Supporting physical improvement works;
• Aimed at encouraging occupiers to improve the investment potential of industrial estates / units;
• Particular emphasis on those industrial estates experiencing high levels of obsolescence, dereliction, vacancy and abandonment;
• Helping existing small scale businesses and start-up businesses utilising previously vacant units.

The BSF also includes Microenterprise/Start-up Support which encourages new micro enterprise owners who upgrade an existing vacant premises to avail of a graduated “rates holiday” for up to two years.

LEO South Dublin has a on-going comprehensive advertising, promotional and social media campaign covering all of our business supports and activities which runs throughout the year. We have a Winter campaign running at present which includes:-

• Advertising and editorial campaigns across all of the Dublin Press. This includes interviews and case studies featuring local entrepreneurs.
• A bus shelter campaigns again featuring local businesses who have availed of LEO and SDCC business supports..
• A ‘Shop Local In South Dublin’ campaign commenced end of October and will continue up to the Christmas period. LEO South Dublin is fully sponsoring and actively supporting the campaign in collaboration with The Echo. All businesses in South Dublin are invited to join our Shop Local Directory which will grow from week to week as we roll out the campaign and will highlight the opportunities for customers to shop in person, click and collect and on-line.