Dundalk Chamber make budget 2024 submission

Una McGoey, President of Dundalk Chamber and Paddy Malone, PRO of Dundalk Chamber recently attended a briefing organised by Chambers Ireland where all Oireachtas members were invited.

Both raised a number of issues with three local TDs Ged Nash, Fergus O’Dowd and Ruairí Ó Murchú.

Among issues raised were housing, transport links both rural and urban, water issues in Dundalk, cross border workers and the potential of the status given to Drogheda/Dundalk/ Newry under the 2040 National Development Plan.

Ms McGoey set out the chamber’s concerns on infrastructure which they have also voiced to Louth County Council at recent briefings on the County Plan.

These included housing, waste, school access and community infrastructure.

In a statement, the Chamber said:

“Ged indicated his broad agreement on the issue. Fergus O’Dowd asked that we meet him to brief him on our concerns with water, particularly both waste water and flooding.

“Ruairí confirmed to Paddy that he was well aware of the cross-border issue with workers. Paddy reminded him that this was not a local issue, nor just for employees, but also had ramifications.

“Employees could work from France for a Dundalk company, not just in Northern Ireland.

“Social welfare rights/pensions were issues for such employees while Corporation Tax was an issue for the companies as well as insurance, health and safety. As the UK has left the EU there may be divergence in the future between EU and UK legislation.

“Paddy stressed that as this was both a matter for Ireland/UK but also the wider OECD the matter needed to be approached both bilaterally with the UK and also within the EU to protect the Single market.

“All three TD’S gave their backing to the M1 Corridor recognising its potential, acting as a growth hub and taking pressure off Dublin and to a lesser extent Belfast. They also confirmed their willingness to continue to work with the Chamber in the future.”

The Chamber's Budget submission says that the primary focus of Budget 2024 should be to address those issues which are creating bottlenecks, impacting on living standards and thereby fueling inflation.

It says: “The chief culprits are housing, interest rates and energy costs.

“These pressures are causing payroll inflation which is threatening both jobs and businesses.

“The Government’s support last year was welcomed but there is still a need for targeted support to the vulnerable members of society.”