Government must set out Deadlines for Delivery
Dublin Chamber calls for a public model of Childcare.
Wednesday 16th October: Dublin Chamber has set out eight business priorities for political parties to adopt and include in the next programme for government, following the general election.
Speaking at the launch, Director of Public and International Affairs Aebhric McGibney said, “The emphasis here is on delivery; clear milestones, deadlines and delivery of the infrastructure, housing and public services that Dublin so desperately needs. The effective functioning of the city is on a knife-edge, a critical juncture in terms of having sufficient capacity for growth in terms of public transport, water, wastewater, grid capacity, childcare and of course affordable housing.”
“Dublin remains the economic engine of the country, and for this to continue, investment is critical. The infrastructure needs to be put in place to facilitate the construction of 30,000 homes in the Greater Dublin Area. This amounts to half of all new homes nationally.”
“When it comes to public services,” Aebhric Mc Gibney said, “Government must invest heavily in policing and public childcare services. The current strength of An Garda Síochana is not enough to effectively police our streets. The force needs to be increased from 14,000 members to at least 18,000.”
“Parents in Ireland face some of the highest costs for childcare in the OECD. Despite the 50% reduction in childcare fees introduced across Budget 2023 and 2024, the availability and cost of childcare is a significant barrier to working families. This is why we are calling for a more co-ordinated and concerted move to a public model of childcare in Ireland over the lifetime of the next government.”
“Our plan is ambitious, because we are ambitious for Dublin, its businesses and its people. We believe that the next government should be too. We are urging candidates who are running in Dublin to be champions for the region and adopt these priorities from the business sector.”
Our Eight Priorities:
- Complete the Eastern and Midlands Water Supply Project and the Greater Dublin Drainage Scheme by 2030.
- Remove the Passenger Cap on Dublin Airport.
- Commence construction on MetroLink, DART+ South West, Coastal South and North, and Luas Finglas in 2025. Complete Bus Connects in 2025.
- Introduce a public model of childcare provision and ensure that services are matched to population centres.
- Ensure that half of all new homes or 30,000 units are built in the Greater Dublin Area each year to meet pent-up and future demand. Zone more land for housing in Dublin’s commuter towns, served by public transport.
- Make Dublin safer. Increase Gardaí overall numbers from 14k to 18k and invest in public spaces, lighting and cleanliness on Dublin’s streets.
- Cut Capital Gains Tax (CGT) to 20% for unquoted actively trading SMEs
- Increase investment in Ireland’s sustainable energy infrastructure, while increasing supports available to businesses trying to decarbonise. To drastically reduce the cost borne by future generations and avail of Ireland’s renewable energy opportunities, this investment must be made now.
Contact Information
Stephen Browne
stephen@dublinchamber.ie
Notes to editors
Pictured at the launch were Dublin Chamber President Siobhan O'Shea, Director at Indeed; Aebhric McGibney, Director of Public and International Affairs, Dublin Chamber and Stephen Browne, Head of Public Affairs at Dublin Chamber. Photo Credit: Conor McCabe, Photography.
About Dublin Chamber: Dublin Chamber is Ireland’s largest chamber of commerce with over 1000 member companies. It is the most representative and broadly-based business group in the Greater Dublin Area, providing representation and networking services. Its policy work focuses on developing the Dublin region’s infrastructure & transport, promoting competitiveness, and improving local governance. Dublin Chamber is also one of the oldest chambers of commerce in the world, tracing its origins back to 1782.