The submission focuses on unlocking the National Training Fund surplus to address critical workforce gaps, urban revitalisation, reducing policy-driven fixed energy costs through Exchequer subventions, and reforming social welfare structures via a Working Age Payment to encourage labour market participation.
Urban Revitalisation
- Night-Time Economy: Proposes €30M to fund night-time economy initiatives, town centre revitalisation, and public safety/Garda visibility.
- Safety Infrastructure: Calls for investment in improved public lighting, urban transit hubs, and increased Garda presence.
- Retail Crime Strategy: Recommends €10 million to fund front-line Garda visibility under the national Retail Crime Strategy
Training & Upskilling
- In-Work Upskilling & Microcredentials: Proposes deploying National Training Fund (NTF) surpluses into targeted programs like Skillnet (+€50 million over three years), Springboard+ (€47.5 million), and microcredentials subsidies (€12 million) to address staffing shortages and retention.
Cost of Energy
- Energy Exchequer Subvention: Recommends a €300M subvention to offset fixed costs on electricity bills (such as TuOS and PSO levies)
- Diesel Rebate Expansion: Asks to extend the Diesel Rebate Scheme (DRS) to own-account fleets and machinery to lower logistics and supply chain costs.
Workforce Reform
- Welfare Reform: Transitioning to an hour-based Working Age Payment to remove part-time work barriers.
- Working Age Payment Reform: Recommends changing social welfare structures to deduct benefits based on hours worked rather than days, removing penalties for part-time/atypical workers common in hospitality.
Connectivity & Infrastructure
- Regional Connectivity: Proposes €5 million in core funding for the Regional Airports Programme to boost tourist access and regional footfall.
Input from Ibec members successfully translates these broader macroeconomic priorities into actionable recommendations for the travel, leisure, hospitality, arts, culture and heritage sector