Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 December 2025
77. Deputy Catherine Ardagh asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the actions planned under Pillar 4 of the new Accelerating Infrastructure Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70482/25]
View answerLast week Government published the Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan. This set out 30 high-impact reforms targeted at the most significant barriers to the delivery of critical infrastructure. The actions contained in the report are grouped into four pillars.
Pillar 4 focuses on Public Acceptance. Public acceptance is at the centre of timely infrastructure delivery. While the benefits of infrastructure are often widely dispersed to society as a whole, the negative impacts, perceived or otherwise can be more concentrated at local levels. This can drive opposition to critical infrastructure, lengthening development timelines and increasing costs.
Greater public awareness and understanding of the need for critical infrastructure and measures that improve transparency and build trust with key stakeholders, such as landowners and local communities, are required to address these issues.
Pillar 4 sets out actions to strengthen public acceptance as a key enabler of accelerated delivery through promoting the positive impacts and social value of infrastructure, while also introducing reforms to improve land access and acquisition. These actions seek to harness the collaborative support of multiple key stakeholders to ensure the accelerated delivery of infrastructure.
The specific actions under Pillar 4 include:
• Creating a Duty for State Bodies to Cooperate in Making Land Available and Accessible for Critical Infrastructure
• Building Leadership Support for Critical Infrastructure Projects at National and Local Levels
• Enhancing Government Communication to Promote the Importance of Infrastructure Delivery
• Establishing a Benefits Realisation Framework for Infrastructure Projects
Full detail on each of these actions, the timelines for their implementation, and the responsible body is available in the Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan.
