Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 January 2026
431. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the average period of weeks for a major capital project to go through the entire approval gate two process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4240/26]
View answerMy Department is responsible for the Infrastructure Guidelines, which set the value for money requirements and guidance for evaluating, planning and managing Exchequer-funded capital projects. Management and delivery of investment projects and public services within allocation and the national frameworks, including the Infrastructure Guidelines, is a key responsibility of every Department, Accounting Officer and Minister.
The introduction of the Infrastructure Guidelines in 2023 focused on reducing the administrative burden in delivering major capital projects which came as part of the Government’s six priority action to maximise delivery of projects. This was implemented through reducing the number of approval stages and streamlining the requirements for major projects, while retaining international best practice governance and oversight arrangements already in place. This ensures that vital infrastructure projects will be delivered on time and in a manner that ensures value for money through detailed evaluation, appraisal and planning.
The period of time it can take for a major capital project to go through the Approval Gate 2 process varies. The current requirements for approval of a major project at Approval Gate 2 are: Ministerial consent to proceed the project to tendering. This is sought by the Accounting Officer and Approving Authority once they are satisfied with the Detailed Business Case and Procurement Strategy submitted by the Sponsoring Agency. The progress to the Approval Gate 2 stage also requires acquiring external consents of formal planning and other regulatory approvals prior to commencing procurement, and these processes can vary depending on the scale and complexity of the project.
To help drive the efficient delivery of infrastructure across Ireland, targeted amendments to the Infrastructure Guidelines were proposed in the Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan which was published in December 2023. To speed up the progression of projects through the approval process, Action 23 of this plan proposes changes to major projects approvals at Approval Gate 2. Once the changes are implemented, the requirement for Ministerial approval at Approval Gate 2 will be removed, and the relevant Accounting Officer will have the authority to approve. This change is due to be implemented in 2026.
Any further potential reforms to the Infrastructure Guidelines will be considered collectively, and as with previous updates to the appraisal framework, any changes made will reflect international best practice with the aim to ensure value for money for the tax payer in delivering on the infrastructural requirements of the State.
