Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 May 2026
25. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to designate the Navan to Dublin rail line as critical infrastructure under the Critical infrastructure Bill 2026. [39414/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Critical Infrastructure Bill will provide a statutory basis for the acceleration of decision-making around projects and programmes that are considered to be critical infrastructure. The objective is to provide a clear signal and direction to the whole system that designated developments represent the country's key priorities. The Bill requires that all reasonable steps to be taken by public bodies, both individually and collectively, to progress any functions they may have in relation to these projects and programmes as quickly as possible.
Section 1 of the Bill specifically identifies transport facilities including railways as being included within the definition of infrastructure. However, I have consistently stated in the Oireachtas that the designation process will not commence until after the Bill's enactment. When it does, my focus will be on recommending a small number of critical projects or programmes that will facilitate the acceleration of infrastructure across the energy, transport and water sectors, with a particular focus on infrastructure that will support housing.
I recognise the importance of rail infrastructure, but I also note that this Bill is just one of the vehicles being pushed to accelerate the provision of infrastructure. In the Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan, 30 actions were identified to address the 12 barriers to infrastructure delivery identified through my Department’s extensive stakeholder engagement. I, my Department and the whole of Government continue to implement these actions and it is only by pressing forward on all of these fronts can the required scale of transformation in infrastructure delivery be achieved.
