Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 May 2026
109. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the types of projects that will be deemed as critical under his new accelerating infrastructure action plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38164/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Critical Infrastructure Bill is a central pillar of the Government’s broader infrastructure acceleration agenda. The need for a Bill to fast track a limited number of strategically important projects through approval processes was identified in the Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action published last December.
This Bill has been drafted and is being brought through the Oireachtas on a priority basis to respond to this need. Its primary aim is to allow Government to designate certain projects or programmes as critical. This then requires all public bodies who may have an authorisation function for these projects or programmes to prioritise consideration of them within their approval processes.
By establishing a clear legal basis for prioritisation, the legislation will ensure that critical projects and programmes receive focused and coordinated attention across departments, regulators and agencies. It will address the unacceptable delays in our infrastructure approval processes by mandating whole-of-State cooperation and creates a fast-track pathway for critical projects and programmes without skipping any steps in the approval process or weakening safeguards.
The Bill notes that infrastructure is anything that enables the essential facilities and systems of the State to function effectively and includes, but is not limited to -
1. transport facilities, including ports and airports, and transport systems, including roads and railways,
2. energy generation, transmission and distribution systems, and
3. water supply, wastewater and waste management systems.
The Bill specifically references these three key areas because they represent the categories of infrastructure that are required to underpin the provision of all other infrastructure, whether economic or social. The process of identifying projects and programmes will take place after the Critical Infrastructure Bill is enacted.
