Call for fairness in National Development Plan
Unified voice of County Tipperary Chamber
County Tipperary Chamber, the unified voice of business across Clonmel, Thurles, Nenagh, Tipperary Town and the wider region, has called for immediate inclusion of Tipperary projects in the revised National Development Plan (NDP).
The submission, developed in consultation with members from every corner of the county, reflects the collective voice of Tipperary’s business community and follows a recent policy discussion with Minister Jack Chambers. It highlights the urgent need for investment in transport, housing, enterprise infrastructure, and water services, warning that continued inaction will stall growth and damage regional competitiveness.
“Tipperary is ready, but we need to be named,” said Michelle Aylward, CEO of County Tipperary Chamber. “From Thurles to Clonmel, from Nenagh to Tipperary Town, local businesses are clear: we have the ambition, we have the projects, and we need national support to deliver.”
The Chamber’s submission calls for Government to prioritise: Completion of the N24 Cahir-Waterford upgrade and delivery of the long-overdue Thurles Bypass; critical water and wastewater infrastructure, particularly in Clonmel, Tipperary Town and Nenagh, to unlock housing and enterprise zones; support for shovel-ready regeneration projects such as the Thurles Market Quarter and activation of IDA sites in Clonmel; investment in enterprise and innovation hubs in Nenagh, Thurles and surrounding towns to support SMEs; startups, and rural entrepreneurship continued and expanded funding for Skillnet Ireland to ensure workforce upskilling and talent development across all sectors; road and rail upgrades in North Tipperary along the N52/N65 corridor and improved connectivity to Limerick and Dublin. “We are a proud county with vibrant towns, a skilled workforce, and a future-focused business community,” said Sarah Fogarty, President of County Tipperary Chamber.
“This review of the NDP is a chance for Government to show it values rural Ireland - not just in words, but in action.”
The chamber’s call aligns with Chambers Ireland’s national position, which highlights Ireland’s alarming ranking of 38th in Europe for basic infrastructure despite strong GDP growth.
“Infrastructure delays are not just frustrating they’re costing us homes, jobs, and momentum,” Ms Aylward added. “We cannot afford another round of promises.
“We need decisive delivery, regional equity, and clear accountability.”
To support this, the chamber also proposes a county-specific NDP progress tracker co-delivered with local authorities Annual NDP in Your County public briefings to build trust and visibility Empowerment of local authorities to fast-track projects.