South Dublin County Council adopts Annual Budget 2015 with a strong focus on Economic Development, Housing, Sustaining and Creating Jobs, Community and Business supports.

South Dublin County Council adopted its 2015 budget at the Annual Budget Meeting held on the 6th November 2014. Chief Executive, Daniel McLoughlin, informed the Elected Members at the meeting that “the Council’s Revenue Budget will involve expenditure in the region of €220.6 million for the year ahead and that the budgetary context is aligned to the country’s modest economic recovery and the ongoing reform agenda within the local government sector”. The Chief Executive went on to state in his introduction that “this is a progressive budget with a strategic focus on the investment needs of the county while supporting the ongoing challenges facing our communities particularly with regard to housing, jobs and sustaining small business”.

South Dublin County Council’s budget priorities for 2015 include:

Housing provision will be a critical investment priority for the County, with planning approval for 500 social houses to be secured during first half of 2015. There will also be continued investment in existing stock with €1.1 m allocated to a windows and doors replacement programme and an external painting programme which will also support the employment of apprentice painters.

·€0.9M in supports to business including a continuation of the rates supports fund for SME’s, an extension of the shop front grants scheme and a commitment to investment in industrial estates suffering from high rates of vacancy. €230,000 has been set aside to support retail activities including training programmes and the provision of a retail consultancy service.

A major emphasis on tourism with the expected completion of a tourism strategy for the county early next year. In anticipation of this €500,000 committed through the capital programme to kick-start investment in tourist attractions. The festivals and events budget increased from €30- €100,000, while €85,000 has been provided to instigate a marketing and branding exercise. €200,000 is allocated for tourism and heritage signage programmes.

·New initiatives under the Council’s Jobs Strategy include a graduate recruitment initiative, painting apprenticeships, and collaboration with the ETB on the development of training programmes in the sports and hospitality sectors to enhance employment opportunities. The education bursary programme also had its funding increased from€30,000 - €50,000.

2015 will see the commencement of a €7m investment in the County’s villages over a 2 year period aimed at improving their visual appearance and the general business environment.

In excess of €2m is being made available in community supports including a further €500,000 for the popular playground building initiative. A new community initiative fund of €170,000 will allow community groups to bid for funding support not available from other sources, while €25,000 is also being made available in the budget to fund a new endeavour awards scheme.

For further information on the Council’s Annual Budget 2015, please visit the council website at www.sdcc.ie