This week, Dublin Chamber made a submission to the public consultation on the Further Education and Training (FET) Strategy 2025-2029 led by SOLAS, Ireland’s FET Authority.  The goal of the next FET strategy is to support individuals, communities and enterprises through lifelong learning and workforce transformation over the next five years. Informed by member feedback from surveys and roundtable discussions, as well as through our labour taskforce, Dublin Chamber’s submission called for a multifaceted approach to be taken in the new strategy to broaden the current labour market and equip Dublin and Ireland’s workforce with the skills needed to sustain economic growth. Key recommendations included developing future-focused training in emerging sectors and targeting under-represented learner groups, developing an accessible and user-friendly digital FET hub to simplify registration processes and ensure that information on training is accessible, introducing a training voucher system to allow businesses to invest in staff training without delay and improving Ireland’s apprenticeship system. Dublin Chamber looks forward to continuing its engagement with SOLAS and the Department and supporting all future efforts in these areas.

At the beginning of February, Dublin Chamber wrote to all relevant newly appointed Ministers of State to outline our business priorities for each of the Departments. Dublin Chamber wrote to Emer Higgins TD, Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, with special responsibility for Public Procurement, Digitalisation and eGovernment and Alan Dillion, Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment with special responsibility for Small Businesses and Retail and the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications with special responsibility for Circular Economy, amongst others. Dublin Chamber has enjoyed relationships with these officials in their previous roles and looks forward to continued engagement with them on the issues under their new remits.

On the 11^th February, Dublin Chamber attended a meeting with the Dublin Regional Skills Forum (DRSF) to advance the group’s strategy for the year ahead. Led by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, the DRSF supports businesses in the region to identify and develop skill gaps and future-proof talent pipelines. With four-in-five Dublin businesses planning to increase their upskilling efforts over the next two years, the work of the DRSF is absolutely vital and Dublin Chamber is proud to be a committed partner. If you have any interest in engaging with the forum, please contact policy@dublinchamber.ie.

Following the announcement that the NFL will host its first ever game in Ireland at Croke Park, Dublin Chamber spoke on the Anton Savage Show on Newstalk about the economic impact. Dublin Chamber highlighted the significant economic benefits that this event will bring to the city whilst also cautioning that these benefits can sometimes be overstated. Dublin Chamber also emphasised the need for strong transport links across the city and at Dublin airport to accommodate visitors travelling to Dublin for the game. Listen back to the show here.

Throughout our conversations with members in Q1, businesses continue to raise issues around the arduous nature of government supports. Upfront capital is a significant problem flagged among business especially when finance is particularly difficult to access. Members are calling for a change in this regard, encouraging Government to see investment in decarbonising assets rather than recognising it as just a cost. Dublin Chamber currently sits on the Department of Enterprise’s SME Decarbonisation working group and is tasked with looking at such shortfalls. This group is now looking at the Climate Toolkit 4 Business portal, if you have experience with using this toolkit and have any feedback directly for the Department of Enterprise, please email policy@dublinchamber.ie

On the 20^th February, Dublin Chamber’s labour taskforce met with representatives from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to discuss the Chamber’s priorities around childcare. Dublin Chamber is committed to keeping the Government accountable for its promises to reduce the cost of childcare to €200 per month per child through the National Childcare Scheme, whilst also advocating for increased childcare facilities to be delivered in the Greater Dublin Area, where demand is highest.