LOCAL election candidates have been sent a strong message from Tralee Chamber Alliance to commit to backing policies that support their local businesses.

A detailed manifesto containing a number of key measures that need to be addressed by the politicians who will be elected to Kerry County Council, could lead to the creation of many new jobs in the construction, retail and tourism sectors say the Alliance.

The Chief Executive of Tralee Chamber Alliance, Kieran Ruttledge, said: “All of the policies in this manifesto are designed to achieve two key aims: Reduce the cost of doing business and create new jobs. Commercial rates provide the single greatest source of funding to Local Government, therefore the business community must be a key contributor to policy. This will ensure that every area can contribute to and benefit from Ireland’s economic recovery. Tralee Chamber Alliance is the voice of business in Tralee. We are uniquely positioned to understand the challenges the business community faces, but also the opportunities it creates.”

He added that he would have preferred to see the retention of Tralee Town Council who have actively supported the efforts of Tralee Chamber Alliance and he urged the elected representatives to make sure that there are benefits for business when implementing the local government reform measures.

He said it is crucial that the money raised by the Local Property Tax (LPT) should be retained by Local Authorities to be spent on local services and any discretionary reduction should not be to the detriment of business interests or job creation through a corresponding increase in business rates.

Tralee was selected as one of the Top 10 Tourism Towns in Ireland in 2013 and with a view to maintaining that ranking, the manifesto states that  Kerry County Council will need to work with Tralee Chamber Alliance to deliver and support initiatives that attract tourists and tourism spend to their local areas.

The pre-election manifesto deals with a wide range of issues relating to town centre parking charges, the provision enterprise mentoring from local authorities, concerns ahead of the introduction of water charges and effective infrastructural planning matters.

“These elections come at an important time as they are the first opportunity for the public to influence the newly reformed system of Local Government,” said Kieran Ruttledge.

Full details of the Tralee Chamber Alliance Local Election Manifesto are available from www.Tralee.ie and from the Tralee Chamber Alliance Office, 18 Denny Street, Tralee.