Businesses are sceptical of government’s ability to deliver, according to Dublin Chamber’s Q3 Business Outlook Report.

The survey of members shows that the largest share of firms (41%) rate Government performance to date as “Fair”, noting “limited but visible effort”. Nearly four-in-ten respondents (38%) believe the Government is falling well short on most promises, with 31% rating performance as “Poor” and a further 7% as “Very Poor”. Almost one-in-five businesses (18%) offered a positive assessment, with 17% describing progress as “Good” and just 1% rating it “Excellent”.

Housing delivery remains the single most important benchmark for judging Government performance, with more than half those surveyed (52%) citing it as the top priority. This is followed by transport and infrastructure (44%) and overall economic leadership (41%).

Aebhric McGibney Director of Public and International Affairs at Dublin Chamber said, “Businesses need to see tangible progress from Government in removing the barriers and delays to building housing and providing water, electricity and transport. They need to see delivery at the scale and pace required by a housing crisis.”

“Budget 2026 mostly reannounced commitments from the revised National Development Plan. These funding announcements are welcome but must be followed up by action. We need to see the critical projects that will unlock housing delivery such as the Eastern and Midlands Water Supply Project and the Greater Dublin Drainage scheme move off the page and into construction.”

“To help unlock blockages in the infrastructure pipeline, Government needs to ensure that the public good is balanced appropriately with individual rights, multi annual budgets are agreed to give certainty to the market and parallel consenting is the norm rather than the sequential process that is in place at present.” Mr McGibney concluded.

Contact Information

Stephen Browne
Head of Public Affairs
Dublin Chamber
085 710 3329
stephen@dublinchamber.ie

About Dublin Chamber: Dublin Chamber is Ireland’s largest chamber of commerce with over 1000 member companies. It is the most representative and broadly-based business group in the Greater Dublin Area, providing representation and networking services. Its policy work focuses on developing the Dublin region’s infrastructure & transport, promoting competitiveness, and improving local governance. Dublin Chamber is also one of the oldest chambers of commerce in the world, tracing its origins back to 1782.