Letterkenny Chamber Calls for urgent investment in 2025 Budget

The Letterkenny Chamber has called for significant investments in infrastructure and housing to address long-standing regional imbalances and support economic growth.

In its Pre-Budget Submission for 2025, the Chamber, which represents over 300 businesses across Donegal and the North West region, highlights the critical need for targeted investment to correct years of underfunding, which has left the region without essential infrastructure such as motorways, gas networks, and rail connectivity.

The Chamber's President, Claire McDonough, emphasised the urgency of the situation, stating: "This budget is an opportunity to prioritise the regional imbalance by awarding enabling investments that will create a level playing field and allow us to achieve our ambitions."

Among the key issues highlighted is the housing crisis, aggravated in Donegal by the defective blocks crisis, which has further strained an already limited housing market. Letterkenny Chamber is calling on the government to accelerate affordable housing projects and support the Council, housing associations and developers in delivering above-target housing rapidly.

The submission also addresses the challenges faced by businesses in recruiting and retaining talent due to labour shortages. The Chamber advocates for investments in intensive English language courses for people seeking international protection, many of whom are highly qualified but face language barriers to employment.

Additionally, the Chamber has expressed concerns about the tax residency issue affecting cross-border workers, which has become increasingly problematic in the post-COVID era of remote and hybrid working models. The Chamber is urging the government to provide a solution that allows for greater flexibility in labour mobility across the island of Ireland.

Ms McDonough concluded: "We have seen too many budgets that promise much but deliver little. The time for action is now if we are to avoid remaining a region in transition."

The submission outlines a vision for the future social, economic, and environmental development of the North West region, emphasising the need for sustained infrastructure investments to support business growth, competitiveness, and the long-term prosperity of the area.