Legislation to speed up infrastructure enacted
President Connolly has signed into law a bill that creates new fast-track approval processes for projects designated by the Government as ‘critical infrastructure’.
Under the Critical Infrastructure Bill 2026, every public body will be required to do everything within its power to accelerate approval of any designated projects or programmes.
The bill identifies the energy, transport, and water sectors as being of particular importance.
Welcoming enactment, Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation Jack Chambers said that his focus would now turn to identifying “a small number” of projects to designate as critical infrastructure as quickly as possible.
“The Government will decide which of these key State infrastructure projects will be first to receive the fast-track treatment,” he stated, adding that his department would monitor the effectiveness of the new process over the coming months.