Letterkenny Chamber of Commerce has echoed the national call to action from Chambers Ireland for delivering the State’s key infrastructure.
Speaking on the ongoing review of the National Development Plan (NDP), Letterkenny Chamber President, Jimmy Stafford, commented, “Ireland’s GDP growth is estimated at 3.7% for 2025, however the State currently ranks at just 38th in basic infrastructure availability. This contrast between strong economic performance and poor infrastructure represents a significant constraint on our competitiveness. It is essential that we reverse this trend and plan robustly for the future as our population expands.”
“It is time for the Government to act decisively on the delivery of the National Development Plan (NDP), while highlighting the acute infrastructure and investment deficits facing the North West.”
As Chambers Ireland warns “without urgency and tangible progress we risk jeopardising the very foundations of our future development,” Letterkenny Chamber stresses that this is already a lived reality for Donegal and the wider Northern & Western Region.
Jimmy Stafford, President of Letterkenny Chamber, said, “We fully support the call by Chambers Ireland to shift the National Development Plan from ambition to action. The region remains Ireland’s most underinvested and has been classified as ‘in transition’ under EU rankings. Yet, we have seen no real effort to close this gap. The NDP must finally prioritise regions like ours with a clear programme of delivery. Without urgent investment in our roads, housing, electricity grid, and water capacity the regional imbalance will continue.”
Letterkenny Chamber’s submission to the NDP 2026–2035 review calls for:
- Immediate delivery of the long-delayed Donegal TEN-T road projects.
- Prioritised housing delivery in Donegal to unlock growth and address workforce shortages.
- Urgent upgrades to Donegal’s energy grid and water infrastructure.
- Creation of a regional stimulus package to address decades of underinvestment in infrastructure.
The Chamber also calls for new delivery models – including regional delivery units and a national project tracker – to ensure transparency, accountability, and measurable progress.
Mr Stafford concluded, “We are calling for delivery, not just plans. We need a new all of government approach that truly sees the potential of this region – and has the courage to invest in it.”
