Agenda Item 10 MEETING OF DÚN LAOGHAIRE AREA COMMITTEE 1st September 2014 OLD FIRE STATION, DÚN LAOGHAIRE
Question:
Councillor M. Merrigan
“To ask the Chief Executive what role, if any, will the Local Enterprise Office have in the formulation and implementation of a sustainable development plan for the use of the Old Fire Station and other County Council owned properties in the Kelly’s Avenue and George’s Avenue areas of Dún Laoghaire for the provision of ‘incubator units’ for small businesses, community enterprises, training units, workshops, offices and possibly, a local branch of the Irish Men’s Sheds Association?”
Reply: Dún Laoghaire Enterprise Centre (based in the Old Fire Station, George's Place) opened in 1998, further to renovation of the building. It is a Council-owned property but funding from the project came from a variety of additional bodies - both public and private, and including Enterprise Ireland. In total 16 office units are available to small businesses - most of whom are existing Local Enterprise Office clients. Typically there is a limited licence agreement with the tenants and these are offered on the basis that as companies grow they move on, freeing the incubation space for younger businesses. While the building is limited in terms of available space and facilities, it is a successful venture and has benefited from its association with the County Council, as landlord. The Centre is operated by Dún Laoghaire Community Enterprise Centre Ltd. (a company limited by guarantee, registered as a Friendly Society). The Local Enterprise Office, formerly the Enterprise Board and the County Council, have both been represented on the Board of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Community Enterprise Centre Ltd., and traditionally the Local Enterprise Office has offered paid contracts to the Centre to offer services on the Local Enterprise Office behalf - assuming that they are in a position to provide these. It is the Local Enterprise Office intention to continue to support the executive, and more importantly the existing and future tenants in whatever way is appropriate to their needs. However, it is important to note that both community Enterprise Centres in the County (Nutgrove Community Enterprise Centre Ltd. being the second) are independently owned and managed. Contact: Wessel Badenhorst, Administrative Officer, Local Enterprise Office
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