Over 380 businesses benefit from funding and consultancy

SOUTH Dublin County Local Enterprise Office has approved funding and consultancy for over 380 businesses in 2022/ 2023.

At the monthly meeting, Cllr Derren Ó Brádaigh (SF) asked South Dublin County Council to provide a report on the number of SMEs that have applied for and/or been granted funding for business supports in the county in 2022 and 2023.

Ó Brádaigh, who said last month he was “astonished” that only 19 small businesses were able to successfully secure funding supports this year in Lucan and Palmerstown-Fonthill.

He urged “greater direct engagement with the owners of small local business” and also asked for the report to include total amounts separately for each local electoral area, and the total number of SMEs currently in operation in the county.

In response, SDCC said: “In total, the Local Enterprise Office has approved grant funding/funded consultancy for 383 businesses in 2022/ 2023.

“This is in addition to businesses receiving mentoring, training and networking to assist in starting and growing their business.”

Broken down into electoral areas, Rathfarnham/Templeogue was the biggest beneficiary with 67 in 2022, and 46 in 2023. Clondalkin was next, with 56 in 2022 and 44 in 2023.

In third place was Tallaght Central with 38 in 2022 and 29 in 2023. SDCC said: “While historically, the Local Enterprise Office engaged with businesses from 1–10 employees, our remit has recently expanded to allow us to engage with businesses with 11– 50 employees if they are looking to grow their business internationally.

“While we would not have the number of companies classified as SMEs (250 persons) I can confirm that there is currently 7,000 rateable properties within the county and, nationally, SMEs would account for approximately 99.8 per cent of businesses.”

Learn more about the South Dublin Local Enterprise Office on its website HERE.