Capital spend for 2027 to exceed €20bn, says Minister Chambers

Economist Jim Power welcomes Budget 2027 measures on personal tax relief and new PIA account at Kinsale Budget briefing

Kinsale Budget Breakfast Briefing 2027: Cormac Fitzgerald, conference chair and founder; economist Jim Power; Minister Jack Chambers, TD, MEP Billy Kelleher and Ann Marie O'Sullivan,  MC and event host at Kinsale Hotel & Spa. Picture: John Allen

Next year’s capital investment will exceed €20bn, says Jack Chambers, Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Services, Reform and Digitalisation.

Speaking with economist Jim Power at the annual Kinsale & District Lions Club Budget Breakfast Briefing 2027, hosted in Kinsale Hotel & Spa, Minister Chambers said that Budget 2027 was built around balance, protecting long-term capital investment while responding to cost of living pressures.

Jim Power described the budget as being positive overall, notably on personal tax relief, while he also welcomed the new PIA investment account and the reduction in capital gains tax from 33% to 31%.

The event Kinasle brought together representatives across government, enterprise, the professions, education, healthcare, and the wider community. This year’s theme was “Trusted Business Leadership”.

The briefing examined the key measures of Budget 2027, Ireland’s broader economic outlook, national competitiveness, and the evolving challenges and opportunities facing SMEs.

Since its inception, the Kinsale Budget Breakfast Briefing has raised over €100,000 for the local community. Proceeds from this year’s charity raffle will support Kinsale Youth Support Services (KYSS) in its ongoing work promoting positive mental health throughout the region.

The annual event was founded by chartered accountant Cormac Fitzgerald and Jim Power.

Cormac Fitzgerald, event chair, emphasised the vital relationship between commerce and community: "Strong businesses help build strong communities, and strong communities create places where businesses can prosper. Seeing more than 300 delegates come together to discuss the future of Irish business, while supporting our local community, captures exactly what this event is about - effective business leadership with a positive local impact." 

The morning featured a high-profile lineup of guest speakers, including: Cróna Clohisey, director of advocacy, Chartered Accountants Ireland; Pat Lordan, former head of the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau; Professor Conor Deasy, Cork University Hospital; and David Swinburne, chair of Chartered Accountants Ireland Cork Society.

Communications consultant Ann-Marie O’Sullivan hosted and moderated the event. The panel session was also recorded for The Other Hand — Jim Power’s business and economics podcast.