Chamber Policy

Membership Sentiment Survey Report Q3&4

The Chamber conducted its bi-annual survey over a period of two weeks from the 6 September – 20 September 2022.

Of the total responses received, 42% where from businesses with 21 plus employees, while 58% came from businesses with staff ranging from 1 to 20 employees. Over 66% of the responses came from the Life Science and Manufacturing area, Tourism, Hospitality and Leisure, Retail, Education and Training and the service industry.

The survey concentrated on the key business challenges of competitiveness in Kildare, Energy Costs, Sustainable Development, Post-Covid employment and the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. It particularly highlighted continuing challenges Kildare businesses are having with regards to skills & training availability within the county, housing availability and the cost of energy, all of which businesses see as substantial barriers to competitiveness within Kildare.

Maynooth- Clane Local Area Plan

Kildare County Council jointly with Meath County Council recently published an Issue Paper regarding the Maynooth Clane Local Area Plan 2024-2030.

The issue paper set out the scope of the LAP for the coming six years, with regard to strategic planning, infrastructure and housing demands and economic growth for the surrounding areas.

This is only the first step in a possible draft LAP for the Maynooth-Clane and surround areas. As part of the Chambers ongoing engagement with the Council on strategic planning and development, a submission was made. Ongoing engagement with all our stakeholders will continue in the interim and the Chamber looks forward to submitting a full and detailed submission on behalf of our membership further into the process.

County Kildare HR Roundtables

Against the backdrop of economic challenges, Covid-19 and an ever-changing HR landscape, the time for HR to support and lead out in their organisations is now. To support the thinking, reflection, sharing of ideas and best practices and planning, County Kildare Chamber in partnership with Adare Human Resource Management are facilitating a number of HR Roundtable opportunities for Senior HR Leaders and HR Directors.

These interactive HR Roundtable meetings will enable peer to peer learning and sharing through a structured process designed to support the ability to pivot your organisations HR Strategic Planning journey each year. The Roundtables will be held at a frequency of 3-4 per year, with the first meeting of the new year scheduled for January 2023.

Policy Advisory Council

The Policy Advisory Council held its final meeting of 2022 in October.

Minister Damien English TD was present at the meeting, and a wide-ranging discussion was held with a number of points raised around work permits, security of supply with particular importance placed on energy supply for the County and Budget 2023 business supports.

The next meeting of the Policy Advisory Council will take place on the 17th January 2023, with Chief Executive of Kildare County Council, Sonya Kavanagh.