At a recent North Dublin Chamber Business Breakfast Mark Kellett CEO of Magnet presented the findings of research conducted by Amarach.  The research indicates that 37% of businesses will open new premises this year while 26% of Businesses will move their main premises in 2016.  Stephen Kennedy President of the Chamber said it was vital that North Dublin become an attractive location for business to locate their factories and offices.

The North Dublin Chamber is urging its members to speak to candidates and public representatives on the need for Infrastructure development to ensure North Dublin meets the needs of investors, who generate business and jobs.

Infrastructure does not just manage the flow of people, water, energy etc. it creates a quality environment in which people want to live and work. Productivity increases where people are in close proximity to each other as ideas are generated and economic and knowledge interactions are increased, leading to positive spillovers to the wider economy.

The lack of investment in public transport, roads and cycling infrastructure in recent years is becoming more evident as traffic and congestion in the region increases as the city shows signs of economic recovery.

The NTA Transport Strategy addresses the main transport routes; however it does not address how areas excluded from quality public transport provision can be serviced in the future i.e. how transports patterns can be altered to open up opportunities for employment, education and social activity. 

The absence of orbital bus routes across the region and the subsequent impact on access to employment opportunities and educational facilities has been highlighted in past research.

In recent years Dublin has witnessed a shift towards the professional services, finance and high-tech sectors which have shown a preference for offices in city centre locations. Therefore it is important that physical and social infrastructure addresses the skills and education requirements of an increasingly service based economy, the changing location preferences of new employment generating activities across different industries, the decline of traditional enterprise and industrial estates and the competition for investment in these declining areas from other parts of the city and county.

Public transport and cycling infrastructure is urgently required to relieve the congestion on roads which are of strategic importance to the city and national economy; M50 and M1.

Key Points to discuss with candidates:

• Metro North solution to be progressed without delay
• Until the Metro is available, bus transport needs to improve dramatically
• Transport links need to be developed to allow people to access employment within the region of North Dublin
• The Airport, DCU, DIT and Industrial Estates are big drivers for growth and should be supported to develop their infrastructure and facilities