03/10/2014

Dear Councillor Timmons,

I refer to representation received on 01/10/2014 in relation to the Shop Front Grant Scheme.
As you will be aware in its 2014 budget South Dublin County Council approved the establishment of its
shop-front grant. Launched in April, the €100,000 fund aimed at improving the appearance of
independently owned shops fronting public streets in our Villages and making the streetscape more
attractive to shoppers and visitors alike.

To simplify the application process a menu was created with options ranging from measures as simple
as painting your shopfront up to replacement of an entire shopfront. An online form was also hosted on
the Councils website. The financial supports ranged from €750 to €4,000. The funding to applicants
approved under the scheme was 50% of claims subject to the maximum amount approved for the
applicant.

The Council also established an evaluation team to provide consultations and advice to applicants,
including visits to their premises and to adjudicate upon applications. A Shopfront Design Guide was
also created to assist people in choosing their desired improvements.

To promote the scheme some 200 leaflets were delivered directly to potentially qualifying businesses as
well as promotion of the initiative through local media, the Chamber of Commerce and online including
facebook and twitter. 16 applications have been received to date under the scheme and are at various
stages in the process.

Details as follows;

3 grants have been approved for a total of €4330 with works either completed or in progress.
2 applications are being modified as they did not fully comply with the schemes terms in a minor way.
The remaining applications are either not proceeding this year but will re-apply in 2015 or did not comply
with the scheme as they are not located on a public street.
Following the closing date some further interested parties came forward and based on this and the
applicants considering re-applying in 2015 it is hoped to run the scheme again.