Pre-Budget Submission presented to Minister

On August 28, we welcomed Minister Peter Burke, facilitated by Senator Cathal Bryne, to County Wexford Chamber (CWC) for an in-depth discussion on our Pre-Budget 2026 submission.

We had the opportunity to cover our three core priorities – Infrastructure, Enterprise, and Education – and hear directly from the Minister on what’s coming down the line that supports our submission:

• Life Sciences & Semiconductors – A new national life sciences strategy, building on the sector’s strong presence in County Wexford, is due later this year, alongside IDA collaboration on major semiconductor sites.
• Infrastructure & Competitiveness – Capital plans on water, wastewater, housing, and business cost competitiveness.
• Tourism – Now under the Minister’s remit, with a new Tourism Strategy due September 2025 and an expanded role for Fáilte Ireland to include restaurants.
• Decarbonisation & RED III – Big changes ahead under the EU Renewable Energy Directive, cutting planning permission decision timelines for renewable projects from 52 to 30 weeks in designated acceleration areas. This will speed up planning, boost investor certainty, and create opportunities for local enterprise in the green economy.
• Enterprise & Entrepreneurship – Commitment to reforming EIIS, exploring a National Accelerator Programme for start-ups, and recognising the importance of both multinationals and indigenous businesses.
• Labour Market – The need for a more flexible social welfare model to incentivise part-time work and support sectors facing critical staff shortages.
• Education & Research – Investment in education in the South East, including SETU’s Wexford campus and research infrastructure, is central to driving regional growth and attracting FDI.

A huge thank you to Minister Burke for the engagement, and to Senator Cathal Byrne for facilitating. Our Chamber will continue to champion the voice of business in Wexford and ensure our members’ priorities are heard at the highest levels.

Photo: Pictured at the meeting with Minister Peter Burke were (l-r): Liz Hore, Director of Services, Wexford County Council; Kathryn Kiely, CWC Board (SETU); Senator Cathal Byrne; Minister Peter Burke TD; Conor Robinson, President, CWC; Paula Roche, CEO, CWC; Ed Murphy, CWC Board (GreenTech HQ); and Ben Radford, CWC Board (Rosslare Europort).