This week Letterkenny Chamber joined colleagues from across the country for the Chambers Ireland lobbying day.
Our CEO, Toni Forrester, was accompanied by Chamber President Jimmy Stafford and Vice President Karoline Sweeney. Together, they were pleased to welcome Donegal representatives Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher, Deputy Pádraig MacLochlainn, Deputy Charles Ward, and Senator Manus Boyle to discuss priorities ahead of Budget 2026.
This was a valuable day of engagement with political representatives, strengthening our voice on behalf of the North West business community. We thank Ian Talbot, Margaret Considine (President, Chambers Ireland), and James Kiernan for organising such a well-structured event.
Letterkenny Chamber with Senator Manus Boyle
Letterkenny Chamber with Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher TD
Letterkenny Chamber with Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn TD
Letterkenny Chamber with Deputy Charles Ward TD
Pre-Budget Submission 2026
Alongside our participation in the lobbying day, Letterkenny Chamber has published its Pre-Budget Submission 2026, setting out clear priorities for Government to address the long-standing underinvestment in Donegal and the wider North West region.
Without urgent action on infrastructure, housing, energy, and labour mobility, our region will continue to lag behind, undermining Ireland’s ability to achieve balanced national growth and competitiveness.
Chamber President Jimmy Stafford emphasised:
“Budget 2026 is an opportunity for Government to deliver on balanced regional development. Roads, water, wastewater, and grid connections are not luxuries, they are the basic building blocks of a modern economy. The State is in a unique position to deploy strategic investment in infrastructure to enable the North West to become a net contributor to Ireland’s growth. We need commitment, urgency, and delivery.”
Key Priorities Identified
Infrastructure Investment: Advance long-promised projects including the Ten-T road scheme, county-wide grid upgrades, and critical water and wastewater systems.
Housing: Accelerate delivery of social and affordable housing, address the defective blocks crisis, and enable building where homes are most needed.
Cross-Border Worker Taxation: Resolve tax residency issues that continue to create barriers for cross-border workers and employers.
Business Supports & Competitiveness: Maintain targeted supports, simplify taxation, and provide incentives for innovation and sustainability.
CEO Toni Forrester added:
“Our members are resilient; they continue to invest, innovate, and create jobs despite rising costs and increasing bureaucracy. But resilience has its limits. What we need now is action, clear commitments in Budget 2026 that deliver long-delayed infrastructure and unlock the true potential of the North West.”
Addressing these challenges is not just about Donegal. Closing regional gaps will make Ireland stronger, more competitive, and better positioned to attract investment on the global stage.
📄 Read the full Pre-Budget Submission here: Final LK Chamber Pre-Budget Submission
Chamber Ireland Lobbying Day
