Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, City Hall, Dame Street, Dublin 2.. View directions

Contact: Mary MacSweeney 

Media

Items
No. Item

1.

Minutes of Meeting held on 31st Jan 2017 & Matters Arising pdf icon PDF 361 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Order: Minutes agreed, and  a request that the update on Tourism be separated from the Café & Restaurants Report discussion within the minutes.

 

 

Housing SPC Working Group:

 

The Housing SPC is undertaking primary research concerning the effect of AirBnB on the Dublin housing market and is inviting input from members of the Economic Development and Enterprise SPC before proceeding. It is therefore proposed that 2 members of this SPC will join the new working group. Cllr. Feeney will represent the Councillors & Ms Brophy will represent external stakeholders. 

 

2.

Presentation on Tourism Statement of Strategy and work programme 2017-2022

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Manager introduced the report by describing the short time-frame involved in pulling together the Tourism Statement, highlighting that it was a living document and can be added to as the strategy evolves. The Manager also expressed his gratitude to Ms. Brophy and all the DCC staff involved in finishing it, particularly Ms. Alison King in the events unit. Ms. Brophy then made a presentation on the Tourism statement.

 

The members of the SPC thanked the Manager and Ms. Brophy for the excellent work by DCC staff and complemented the team on the breadth of event supported by DCC. The members highlighted the lack of skilled workers to meet the expected tourism demand and also the area of sport tourism and how DCC could do more to highlight League of Ireland football, particularly in light of DCC ownership of Dalymount Park. The ongoing issue of graffiti and its negative visual impact for tourism was also highlighted.

 

The report was noted for inclusion in the breviate to the next main Dublin City Council meeting and listed for review in 12 months time.

 

3.

Draft Dublin City Markets Action Plan

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Minutes:

The Councillors thanked the Manager for the report but expressed some reservations concerning the under utilisation of the Smithfield Market, the lack of progress on the development of the Iveagh Market and the Victorian Market. It was also suggested that revisions could be proposed to the casual trading bye-laws, during the review, so that private markets could become regulated in future.

 

The manager responded that significant investment has already been made in refurbishing the Victorian Market but the issues of the remaining trader’s onsite, had yet to be resolved. DCC officials have been in negotiations with the traders and a solution was likely to be forthcoming soon. The issue’s concerning casual trading on Moore Street will be identified during the stakeholder consultation period, when the Casual Trading Bye-Laws are reviewed.

 

With regard to a Christmas Market for Dublin City, the Manager recognises the need to develop such an offering and the Markets Strategy makes provision for attracting a world class operator. However, it is understood that such a market will need time to develop fully and that current public realm and transportation works in the City Centre will make that difficult in the short term.  

 

With regard to the Iveagh market, the Manager outlined the complicated history of the site including archaeological findings, funding constraints and the economic downturn. The manager highlighted the current developer’s eagerness to proceed with the project in good faith; however more action may need to be taken by DCC to drive the project on.   

 

The Chair asked the committee if it wished to adopt the report. However, it was decided that the report would be deferred to the next meeting of the SPC allowing a more thorough review by the committee. It was also agreed that Mr. Leslie Moore, Parks Superintendant Dublin City Council, be invited to present in more detail on the Markets Strategy.

 

4.

Economic Development & Enterprise Management Update: Greg Swift

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Minutes:

 

Mr. O’Gara updated the committee on the current work of the Economic Development Office including; the draft of the 2017 LECP Action Plan, the Launch of the Dublin Economic Monitor on April 27th in the Dublin City Gallery, Hugh Lane, the Dublin Infrastructure Summit on May 23rd, the work of the Dublin.ie team and updates on the Regional Action Plan for Jobs. 

 

Mr. Swift updated the SPC on the work of the LEO, and reported that an additional €300,000 was received by LEO Dublin City to increase supports to projects funded through the office. €124,000 was recently awarded to projects and included the supports for the creation of 14 full-time jobs. €19,000 was approved for 8 Export grants to assist with accessing international markets; €53,000 has been approved for trading on-line vouchers, helping business develop their e-commerce potential. The Management update concluded with a video presentation of the activities of the team for Local Enterprise Week 2017 5th – 13th March.     

 

The Chair asked that the SPC should write to the City Manager asking that the efforts of Mr. Swift, Mrs MacSweeney and the LEO team in promoting Local Enterprise Week, be recognised and know. It was also requested the Mr. Jamie Cudden of Smart Dublin be invited to present on the work of his unit to the next meeting of the committee.  

 

5.

Motion received by Cllr. Mannix Flynn

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Minutes:

“That this meeting of DCC supports the lifting of the ban on alcohol consumption and sales on Good Friday and calls on the present Government to amend the legislation that will allow the consumption and the sale of alcohol in Restaurants and pubs and other license premises on Good Friday.”

 

As Cllr. Flynn was not present at the meeting the motion did not proceed.

 

6.

AOB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Cllr. Deirdre Heney will succeed Cllr. Paul McAuliffe as Chair of this SPC from 1st June 2017.