Dublin Chamber has recently submitted its response to the Final Draft Revised National Planning Framework (NPF) 2025, cautioning that the current approach to regional growth targets risks constraining Dublin’s capacity to grow sustainably. While Dublin Chamber and its members support the overarching vision of balanced national development, we argue that the framework must reflect the unique role that Dublin plays in Ireland’s economic success. 

Dublin Chamber has welcomed the recognition in the revised NPF of Dublin as Ireland’s global city and leading growth engine, but warns that rigid targets, such as the 50:50 population split between the Eastern and Midland Region and other regions, could hinder the capital’s ability to meet housing demand and infrastructure needs. We noted that the supply of zoned, serviced land has fallen far behind demand and called for urgent reforms to prevent local authorities from dezoning land once targets are met. 

Calling for urgent investment, our submission also identified key priority projects, including the Eastern and Midlands Water Supply Project, MetroLink, DART+, BusConnects, as well as the fast-tracked delivery of infrastructure on brownfield and state-owned lands. With Dublin projected to grow by nearly 300,000 additional people by 2040, we have urged Government to prioritise the delivery of these critical projects, ensuring that they can keep pace with and provide for Dublin’s growing population.  

In addition to the above, we also raised concerns around housing affordability and its knock-on effects on talent retention, productivity, and business expansion. With rising living costs and long commutes making it harder for employers to attract and retain talent, Dublin Chamber called for cross-governmental collaboration to address housing delivery, workforce planning, and social infrastructure. 

At the core of Dublin Chamber’s message was a call for a revised NPF that enables Dublin to accommodate its proportionate share of population and economic growth, free from artificial constraints. We also emphasised the critical role of the forthcoming Revised National Development Plan (NDP) in translating the NPF’s ambitions into concrete outcomes. The effectiveness of the NPF will ultimately depend on a fully resourced, action-focused NDP that addresses regional and national priorities in a balanced and delivery-oriented manner.

Read our submission in full here.