Chamber News

Taoiseach-led “Town Centre First” Initiative vital to national economic recovery stimulus package   In a submission to An Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Chambers Ireland today (30 July 2020) calls for the establishment of an inter-departmental National Town Centre Taskforce to revive urban centres, address the issues of vacancies, incentivise brownfield development and ensure that our cities and towns across the country are supported through the post-COVID recovery.   The Programme for Government committed to a ‘Town Centre First’ policy approach, founded on the Town Centre Health Check research...

July Stimulus gives breathing room for business, but long-term strategy for recovery will be needed, says Chambers Ireland   Chambers Ireland welcomes this afternoon’s announcement (23 July 2020) on the July Stimulus from Government. The measures include: Expansion of grant aid for business impacted by COVID-19 Extension and reform of the Wage Subsidy Scheme beyond August, to March next year Extension of Commercial Rates Waiver Stimulus measures to support sectors vulnerable to pandemic social-distancing, including retail, hospitality and tourism Additional funding for active travel infrastructure Speakin...

Sole traders and SMEs in retail, hospitality, leisure, recreation and professional services across Meath to get assistance from Facebook County Meath Chamber has announced that over 320 businesses in Meath will receive funding as part of the Covid-19 Support Fund for SMEs funded by Facebook. The initiative sees €250,000 distributed among a range of businesses based in the county. Facebook has been part of the Meath community since they broke ground on their Clonee Data Centre in 2016. In just two weeks, County Meath Chamber received over 400 applications from businesses right across the county of Meath from sole traders to me...

Chambers of Commerce collaborate to Support SME Recovery & Growth Plan in Mid & North East. County Meath Chamber of Commerce, Drogheda & District Chamber, Dundalk Chamber, Dundalk Chamber Skillnet and M1 Drogheda Chamber Skillnet are working in collaboration to support SMEs in the Mid & North East. They are proud to present their SME Recovery & Growth Plan which consists of a series of 4 online seminars delivered by industry experts.  The four topics include Strategy, Finance, Creative Thinking and Digital Marketing.  Paula McCaul, CEO Meath Chamber says “We are delighted to collaborate with neighbou...

With our economy re-opening, the hard work is only beginning. Regional differentials risk being exacerbated   Chambers Ireland and our nationwide network of Chambers has today (10 June 2020) published results from a survey of the Irish business community. This survey sought to quantify and highlight the impact of COVID-19 on businesses in our towns, cities and regions across the country. The fourth in a series, the survey has 1,320 responses and was conducted between the 28th May and 2nd June 2020. Our latest survey took a read of the business environment in Phase 1 of our economy’s re-opening followin...

Chambers Ireland today (8 June 2020) welcomes news from the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment and the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, that the Trading Online Voucher Scheme has received additional funding. Speaking this afternoon, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot said, “Today’s announcement from Minister Humphreys and Minister Bruton that an additional €14.2 million will be made available for the Trading Online Scheme will be widely welcomed by businesses all over the country. The demand for the Scheme over the past number of months has been significant. The ab...

Chambers Ireland calls for Cabinet to give clarity and certainty to business   Ahead of today’s (29 May 2020) Cabinet meeting, Chambers Ireland calls for Government to reform and extend the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) beyond its initial June deadline and ensure the right supports are in place to support business liquidity and jobs.   Speaking this morning, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot said, “There have been indications that the Wage Subsidy Scheme will be retained beyond the initial 12-week period. However, as we approach the end of May, and as more and more businesses start to reop...

Data Crucial to Obtaining Supports for Business - Chambers Ireland Launches Latest COVID-19 Business Impact Survey The target of this survey are the business owners and operators around the country, both those whose businesses have been affected by the Covid-19 crisis, and those whose businesses have not.   With Phase 1 of the reopening of our economy underway, we are seeking to understand the struggles that businesses are experiencing, including those that are reopening, those that have remained closed, and those that have managed to continue through the restrictions. The survey will close at noon on Monday, 1 June and see...

Following today’s (22 May 2020) launch of the Restart Grant, Chambers Ireland calls on Government to urgently commit to increased funding and a more expansive approach, so that businesses of all sectors affected can receive support. Speaking today, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot emphasised the need for Government to engage more deeply with the reality of the economic challenges facing the business community and local economies across the country. “The scale and scope of supports for business needs to be radically expanded. Today’s launch of the Restart Fund is welcome, and we are encouraging our members to...

Meath Chamber Ireland welcomes wellspring of supports from An Post   Following today’s (20 May 2020) announcement from An Post of its commitment of €2 million worth of practical supports for Ireland’s SMEs to get back to business, Chambers across Ireland welcome this new package of supports, which includes a dedicated eCommerce advice hub for SMEs, and complements the range of business supports already available from Government and the supports of local Chambers nationwide.   Speaking this afternoon, Meath Chambers Chief Executive Paula McCaul said:   “An Post’s comm...

PRESS RELEASE - May 18th  Facebook and County Meath Chamber Connect to Support Small & Medium Businesses in County Meath Covid-19 Support Fund for Meath SMB’s “As the economy and society begin to reopen, it has never been more critical or more important that we shop local and support local businesses”. This is the key message from Paula McCaul CEO of County Meath Chamber as she announced their partnership with Facebook today. Facebook is donating €250,000 to County Meath Chamber so that the Chamber can make funding available to small and medium businesses across Meath as they adapt and change in response...

Chambers Ireland welcomes the Government’s announcement today (15 May) that the first phase of lifting of Covid-19 restrictions will begin next Monday. Speaking earlier, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive, Ian Talbot said, “It is with great relief that we can welcome the start of our society’s reopening, in the wake of this unprecedented economic lockdown. As we take our first steps along the road to recovery we should be immensely grateful for the efforts of all those who have worked so hard over the last two months to minimise the impact of this disease on our people; the doctors, the nurses, the heal...