Budget 2026 and Competitiveness: Navigating Uncertainty

The National Competitiveness and Productivity Council is pleased to announce the publication of Budget 2026 and Competitiveness: Navigating Uncertainty paper. This publication aims to emphasises that competitiveness continues to play a central role in policy discussions, both domestically and internationally.

While Ireland continues to hold a strong competitiveness position globally, it still faces deep-rooted challenges that pose ongoing risks to its performance. The NCPC’s Ireland’s Competitiveness Challenge 2025 report underscores the importance of tackling issues that lie within domestic control (or “controlling the controllables”). Therefore, this Pre-Budget publication – second paper published by the Council on this topic – draws attention to those recommendations most relevant for Budget 2026.

This year, the Council highlights that with global uncertainty continuing to shape the economic environment, it is vital that Irish Government focus on addressing challenges within domestic control, such as low productivity and infrastructural gaps. By aligning Budget 2026 with the Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity, Ireland can better safeguard its competitive position and ensure that businesses of all sizes are supported to thrive.

You can check out the publication and NCPC's press release below.