DLR Chamber report identifies potential €2.5bn retrofit and sustainability market
A major new economic report commissioned by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Chamber of Commerce has identified a potential €2.5bn retrofit and sustainability market in the county, while highlighting the growing influence of hybrid working, digital enterprise and town-centre regeneration on the local economy.
The newly launched Bespoke Locale Report, developed in partnership with Sunstone, is being described by the Chamber as one of the most comprehensive local economic intelligence studies undertaken by a Chamber organisation in Ireland.
The report combines business registration records, demographic data, workforce trends and live enterprise mapping to provide a detailed snapshot of economic activity across Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown.
Its findings show the county is home to almost 18,000 registered entities and more than 12,000 visibly trading businesses, serving a population of more than 233,000 people.
Among the report’s key findings is the scale of opportunity in retrofit and sustainability-related sectors, with the market estimated to be worth approximately €2.5bn in the years ahead.
The report also underlines the county’s strong skills base, noting that 61% of adults hold a third-level qualification, placing Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown among the most highly educated local economies in the State.
Meanwhile, 63.5% of workers are employed in managerial, professional or associate professional roles.
Hybrid and remote working trends also feature strongly in the analysis. More than 19,500 residents now work mainly from home, making it the second-largest work category in the county after commuting by car.
According to the report, this reflects DLR’s growing appeal as a hub for digital enterprise, innovation and flexible working.
Speaking after the launch, Minister Jack Chambers said strong regional economies would be critical to Ireland’s long-term competitiveness.
“Initiatives such as this demonstrate the value of evidence-led collaboration between business, local government and community stakeholders in shaping sustainable economic growth,” he said.
He added that Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown “continues to play an important role in Ireland’s economic future”.
Colette O'Sullivan, CEO DLR Chamber of Commerce, said the initiative would help address longstanding gaps in local economic data.
“For too long, important information about our local economy existed in fragmented silos,” she said.
“This report changes that. For the first time, the Chamber now has an integrated overview of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown’s economic ecosystem — helping us better understand growth patterns, opportunity areas and future investment needs.”
Frank Curran, Chief Executive of DLR County Council, said the report highlighted “important opportunities for future collaboration, investment and strategic planning across the county”.
Jack Chambers speaking at the launch. Photo Michael Chester
Meanwhile, Aisling Ní Mhuirí, Co-Founder of Sunstone, added that the project demonstrated the value of combining business data with demographic insight and live trading activity analysis.
“The economy cannot be properly supported if it cannot be properly seen,” she said.
The Chamber said the report will now inform future policy engagement, investment attraction, business support initiatives and economic development planning across Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown
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