Dublin Chamber president Siobhan O’Shea has told the organisation’s AGM dinner that the availability of affordable housing is the largest concern for Dublin businesses in attracting and retaining talent.
The Indeed executive said that Government has set “an artificial ceiling” on the number of houses that can be built in the Greater Dublin region, a ceiling that has already been reached in some areas.
“We do not accept that Government should seek to limit the development of housing in the many towns and suburbs of the city that make up its hinterland, particularly where these towns are well served by public transport,” she stated.
O’Shea also noted that Dublin is running out of water as the Liffey has been drained to its limit. “There is a proposal to provide an alternative, but it has already been delayed by years and its completion is at least seven years away,” said O’Shea.
O’Shea was addressing a gathering of c.600 business representatives, and politicians including Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.
The Dublin Chamber president urged ministers to become more innovative and proactive in supporting and enabling new and previously overlooked talent pools to flourish.
“Together with businesses, I believe that Government can not just close the skills gap but create a sustained momentum with a steady supply of skilled labour that is not just capable but exceptional,” she stated.
The UCD graduate, whose CV includes roles at Cpl and Morgan McKinley, is director of Scaled Business Success in Europe for Indeed, and she is a board member of Solas.
O’Shea also reiterated the Chamber’s support for a directly elected Mayor for Dublin.
“Coordination in the coming decades is needed on many fronts, from prioritising capital projects to developing housing,” she said. “However, if it proves impossible to devolve sufficient powers to local level, we believe a minister at cabinet with these responsibilities could equally make the progress required.
“We don’t know yet if Dubliners will be asked to vote for a Mayor later this year. But if they are, the debate should be an informed one, with a clear definition of the powers and responsibilities that are to be attached to the role.”
Photo: Siobhan O’Shea (right) with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Mary Rose Burke, CEO of Dublin Chamber. (Pic: Conor McCabe)
