Chambers Ireland: Budget 2027 must turn record resources into real delivery to restore competitiveness

Chambers Ireland, the nationwide voice of business, has today (Tuesday 30 June) launched its Pre-Budget Submission 2027 ahead of its appearance before the Oireachtas Budgetary Oversight Committee, calling on Government to use Ireland’s fiscal strength to deliver urgently needed capacity across housing, infrastructure, skills and energy.

The organisation warns that while Ireland enters the Budget cycle from a position of strong public finances, the lived experience of businesses tells a different story, with rising costs, infrastructure gaps and slow delivery now directly undermining growth.

Set against Ireland’s forthcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Chambers Ireland states that competitiveness, resilience and delivery must define both Ireland’s domestic and European economic leadership.

Chief Executive Ian Talbot said that Budget 2027 will be judged not by announcements, but by outcomes:

“Budget 2027 must give businesses confidence that the State can match its ambition with action. Firms across the country are ready to invest, grow and create jobs, but they need a stronger operating environment. This means faster infrastructure delivery and clearer signals that competitiveness is being treated as a national priority.”

Chambers Ireland, which represents over 9,000 businesses nationwide, warns that the cost of doing business is now a direct threat to Ireland’s enterprise base, particularly for indigenous SMEs. Rising energy, labour, regulatory and operating costs are constraining investment and expansion.

Energy costs are identified as a key pressure, with businesses facing both high prices and uncertainty, while delays in delivering clean energy infrastructure are compounding the problem. The organisation calls for Budget 2027 to reduce avoidable cost burdens and provide greater assurance for firms planning for growth.

The submission also highlights the need to deploy existing resources more effectively, including the National Training Fund, where over €1.8 billion remains unutilised despite acute skills shortages across the economy.

Ian Talbot added:

“This Budget must confront the cost pressures facing business, but it must also fix how we deliver. Ireland does not lack funding. We lack consistent, timely execution. Without that shift, ambition will continue to run ahead of capacity.”

A central message of the submission is that Ireland must move from investment commitments to measurable outcomes, particularly in housing and infrastructure. Persistent delays and system bottlenecks, including planning constraints and project delivery challenges, are now limiting economic expansion and regional development.

Chambers Ireland also cautions that windfall revenues should not obscure structural weaknesses. Ian Talbot continues:

“Windfall revenues give us an opportunity, not a guarantee. They should be used to build long-term capacity, not to mask underlying issues or delay reform. This Budget must focus on delivery of homes, infrastructure, skills and energy security. Ireland’s future demographics also point to the urgent need for Government to set out the case for extensive broadening of the tax base at a time when it has the flexibility to relieve the burden on taxpayers by increasing tax bands and allowances.”

The submission sets out practical measures to strengthen enterprise, accelerate delivery and support sustainable regional growth, with a clear focus on translating national resources into tangible results for businesses and communities.

Budget 2027 – Chambers Ireland Priorities

Chambers Ireland is calling for Budget 2027 to focus on five national priorities:

  • Reduce the cost of doing business by tackling energy, labour, regulatory and operating costs, and delivering measurable reform through the Cost of Business Advisory Forum.
  • Turn investment into visible results through binding delivery targets, multi-annual funding and clear accountability for major public projects.
  • Scale housing and infrastructure delivery to remove constraints on competitiveness and regional growth.
  • Move climate and energy policy from ambition to delivery, accelerating renewable generation, grid and storage infrastructure.
  • Respond faster to economic and technological change, including better use of the National Training Fund and targeted support for SME innovation and AI adoption.

ENDS

Find a link to Chambers Ireland’s Pre-Budget Submission 2027 here.

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