News
BUDGET: Businesses require support to remain competitive

Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce has given a mixed reaction to this week’s budget.
It has welcomed budgetary recommendations that will offset the cost of energy and is hopeful new Gardai will be assigned to Killarney following an increase in recruitment announcement.
However, the business group has criticised the VAT increase sanctioned for the tourism industry for March 1 and that it will lobby the Department of Finance to reverse this decision.
Chamber President Niall Kelleher said it is imperative that businesses are given every assistance to remain productive and competitive and, in the process, enable them to retain staff.
“The plan to help businesses with the rising costs of electricity and gas is welcome but, that said, it was essential given just how vulnerable and exposed many of them are feeling just now,” he said.
A €200 million scheme, administered by Enterprise Ireland, will support larger firms involved in exporting and manufacturing while another scheme, aimed at small and medium sized businesses, will cover 40 percent of the hike in electricity or gas bills, up to a maximum of €10,000 per month per business.
The Chamber expressed some concern, however, that no commitment was given to extend the nine percent tourism and hospitality VAT rate beyond February 2023.
“We will be lobbying intensively to ensure the lower rate is continued well beyond the date mentioned by the minister as it is essential that hotels, restaurants, guesthouses, cafés and other tourism-related businesses are given the tools they require to remain competitive,” Mr Kelleher said.
“The lower VAT rate is needed to protect jobs in the industry, especially now that energy costs are soaring at an alarming rate,” he added.
The Chamber President also welcomed the Budget commitment that 1,000 new recruits will be accepted into the Garda College in Templemore and that more Garda overtime will be sanctioned to tackle anti-social behaviour.
“Given that the population in Killarney multiplies dramatically during the tourism season, I would fully expect extra human resources to be sanctioned for the town."
News
Jessie Buckley to perform live on RTE this Friday 22nd September

This Culture Night, Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh will present an hour-long live music and arts programme from Dún Lúiche in the heart of the Donegal Gaeltacht at 7pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.
Actress and singer Jessie Buckley has been added to the list of stellar musicians who will perform with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra on the night. Jessie will perform a special rendition of a Sinéad O’Connor song in tribute to the late artist.
Jessie commented: “I am very honoured to return to Culture Night 2023 to remember Sinéad O Connor with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra. Sinéad was such a huge influence on so many women in Ireland and across the world, her courage, her mind, her politics and her intense beauty and soul. She was a warrior to humanity. I remember hearing her for the first time and feeling her uncompromising need to connect and affect. Recognising what couldn’t be said and speaking it out loud. I am so grateful for all her fire and all her love. It is such a privilege to return to Ireland for RTÉ Culture Night in Donegal to sing a song of gratitude for Sinéad and her family and friends.”
Other artists performing with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra include The Murder Capital, R&B singer and 2FM Rising star Aby Coulibaly and Irish-based Ukrainian musician Olesya Zdorovetska.
Friday 22nd September, 7pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player
News
N22 Killarney to Faranfore road further delayed
The revealing of the preferred route corridor for the construction of the new Killarney to Farranfore road has been delayed – again. Four potential routes for the N22 Farranfore-Killarney project […]

The revealing of the preferred route corridor for the construction of the new Killarney to Farranfore road has been delayed – again.
Four potential routes for the N22 Farranfore-Killarney project were identified and were put out to public consultation in May 2021. These have now been whittled down to just one.
It was previously promised that the preferred route would be published late last year.
This dragged on in to the Spring and there is still no sigh of the preferred route being revealed.
A recent Kerry County Council meeting a council official explained that there are further funding requirements to allow the council complete various reports and investigations required before the road can move to its next phase.
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