Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 May 2013
155. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if it is possible for his Department to support an incubation unit project to create jobs at the Clonshaugh Industrial Estate, Dublin, to replicate an enterprise centre for the northside of Dublin similar to the Guinness enterprise centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23268/13]
View answerMy Department through Enterprise Ireland has, in the past, approved funding towards Community Enterprise Centres in Dublin, including centres at Ballymun, Coolock and Darndale.
I am informed by Enterprise Ireland that based on the most recent information that the agency has on occupancy rates that Darndale is at full occupancy, while Coolock and Ballymun are at 75% occupancy. However, as tenancy levels are variable, Enterprise Ireland advises that interested parties should contact the relevant centre directly, as they have the best view of upcoming availability.
Enterprise Ireland’s Incubation Unit Programme is campus based and there are a number of incubation units in the Universities and Institutes of Technology in North Dublin such as, DCU Invent on DCU’s campus; Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown and National College of Ireland, in the IFSC. Enterprise Ireland has advised that these Incubation Centres tend to be close-to-full in terms of occupancy. In these circumstances, interested parties should contact the relevant incubation centre directly for information on the future availability of enterprise space.
If however, the individual concerned wishes to start a micro-enterprise in Clonshaugh, he should contact Dublin City Enterprise Board which promotes the establishment of micro-enterprises (i.e. enterprises employing less than 10 persons); provides financial support to viable projects, and provides business advice and training. Dublin City Enterprise Board can be contacted at http://www.dceb.ie/ for information and advice.
The Board also promotes enterprise space that it is aware of in its area and a map of the incubation centres that the Board are promoting is available at:
http://www.dcebenterpriseguide.com/Enterprise-Space/Enterprise-Centres
