Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 February 2026
86. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation for an update on the work of the Accelerating Infrastructure Taskforce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10874/26]
View answerThe Accelerating Infrastructure Taskforce was established in May 2025 to support my work, and that of my Department, in identifying the key barriers to infrastructure delivery and proposing reforms capable of materially accelerating the development cycle for major projects.
Following the publication of the Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan in December, the Taskforce has moved from an advisory role into one centred on supporting its implementation through providing strategic guidance.
The membership remains unchanged, ensuring continuity of expertise and operational insight. The Taskforce last met on Thursday, 29 January, where members received updates from Uisce Éireann on project development and reviewed progress across the full suite of actions. Minutes of all Taskforce meetings are published regularly on my Department’s website.
Good progress is being made on actions scheduled for delivery in Q1 2026, and my Department is in regular contact with the responsible leads to ensure timelines remain on track. Notable developments to date include:
• The public consultation on proposed scale-of-fees regulations closed on 15 January. Submissions are now being reviewed by the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, and will be published this quarter, with regulations on cost-capping to be drafted and brought before the Oireachtas by end-March.
• Work is advancing in parallel with the Department of Justice on broader reforms to judicial review.
• Drafting of the Critical Infrastructure Bill has commenced, supported by legal experts and ongoing engagement with the Office of the Attorney General. Government’s legislative programme confirms publication of the General Scheme by end-March.
• The High-Level Group on EU Policy and the European Coordinators Network considered infrastructure-relevant EU proposals for the first time on 21 January.
• The Regulatory Simplification Unit has now been established within my Department and is progressing its programme of regulatory and legislative reviews.
• Cabinet approval has been secured for key reforms to the Infrastructure Guidelines, including higher thresholds for major projects, removal of the External Assurance Process, and streamlined requirements at Approval Gate 2.
• Government has approved an expanded role for the National Development Finance Agency in supporting major projects, with a further Circular to issue shortly.
• Meetings of the Joint Utilities and Transport Clearing House will continue this quarter, with a structured work plan under development.
• Work is progressing on revised structures within the Construction Sector Group, reflecting the recommendations of the recent critical skills assessment published by Minister Lawless.
• A draft cross-Government Communications Strategy has been prepared to support actions 28, 29 and 30.
At this point there are no significant indicators of slippage, and sectors remain firmly committed to delivering all Q1 and Q2 actions as scheduled.
