Lack of investment poses risk to Dublin’s growth, says Chamber
Padraig Conlon 27 Aug 2024Dublin Chamber says it has called on Government to use Budget 2025 to increase investment and accelerate delivery in major capital projects such as public transport, water infrastructure, energy, and housing.
Speaking as Dublin Chamber’s pre-budget submission was launched, Dublin Chamber CEO Mary Rose Burke said: “Housing continues to be a major blockage for recruitment and retention for members. Increasing the supply of homes in the GDA is critical for residents, businesses and investors.
“The Residential Zone Land Tax must continue to be reviewed so it can be used to activate more land that is zoned and serviced for housing.
“This must be reinforced with a commitment to servicing those areas with key infrastructure such as water, wastewater, public transport, energy and childcare as to not cause any delays in getting much needed housing on stream.
“Delays in major capital investment in infrastructure such as Uisce Eireann’s Eastern and Midlands Water Supply Project as well as the Greater Dublin Drainage Scheme, Metro, DART+, and Busconnects is holding Dublin back.
“Due to the failure to address the lack of housing which includes years of pent-up demand, it is therefore necessary that the Housing for All target is revised to a minimum of 53,000 units per year with half of these delivered within the GDA
“Access to childcare is critical for the planning of capital investment delivery and is essential that housing development has access to this.
“In order to keep the momentum from previous Budgets addressing the cost of childcare, Dublin Chamber is calling for a further reduction in the cost of childcare by increasing the universal subsidy under the National Childcare Scheme from €2.14 to €2.70 an hour.
“While committing developing more childcare facilities and increasing capacity.
“The Government has seen unprecedented returns in terms of tax revenue, this must now be used to invest in the future, on major capital investment that will bare fruit in the years to come”.