Dear Chamber Member,

I hope you are all well and that those of you returning to the office/workplace environment are once again enjoying the company of your colleagues.

Last week we enjoyed the Cork Digital Marketing Awards, which saw the winners of each category announced, and the overall Digital Marketing Legend was announced as Crawford Art Gallery. Congratulations to all the winners on the day who have shown outstanding resilience and vision in supporting their brands and companies through a changing business environment.

This week, the much anticipated publication of the National Development Plan provided some assurance that core projects for Cork, across sectors from education, to healthcare to infrastructure, remain a Government commitment. It’s positive to see inclusion of development of suburban rail from mallow to Cobh/Midleton line and the conversion of Kent Station to a fully functioning mobility hub which will, on completion by 2026, transform the transport dynamic of the city region.

While it is also welcome to see mention of the N/M20 corridor project, the M28, Dunkettle Interchange, and BusConnects, and other elements of CMATS, it must be noted that this National Development Plan can only be a success if it is delivered.

Government must be more forthcoming with detail, and take an ambitious approach to delivery of the NDP that will inspire confidence in the economy and help Ireland to achieve the targets set out in Ireland 2040.

We will continue to engage with local and national representatives on these and other key issues affecting life and business in the region, and I welcome your continued input in this regard.

Our agenda is shaped by you, for you.

Warm regards,

Conor Healy

CEO