Open Consultation on Accelerating Infrastructure
Closing Date for Submissions: 5 p.m., Friday, 4 July 2025
The Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan (NDP) Delivery and Reform is launching a public consultation to seek feedback from stakeholders, industry experts, and the wider public on the challenges and opportunities related to infrastructure delivery in Ireland.
Introduction
Ireland faces a long-standing infrastructure deficit, stemming from historically low levels of capital investment. In recent years, this challenge has been compounded by higher-than-expected economic growth and population expansion, both of which have intensified demand for critical infrastructure.
The effects of this deficit are most acutely felt in the area of housing delivery, where output consistently falls short of what is required to meet the needs of Ireland’s economy and its growing population.
Evolving Challenges in Infrastructure Delivery
The complexity of infrastructure delivery has increased significantly over time, particularly in the duration of the project development cycle—from conception through to completion. This has led to a range of practical issues:
Extended timelines typically lead to increased costs of infrastructure delivery
Uncertainty inhibits effective capital planning and necessitates higher risk contingencies
Delays in delivering key projects postpone the realisation of climate benefits, impacting national environmental targets
Repeated reforms, while often well-intended, have inadvertently added to procedural and regulatory complexity
The cumulative impact of these challenges necessitates a comprehensive policy response. The Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, and the Department have been tasked with identifying solutions to accelerate infrastructure delivery across the State.
Purpose of the Consultation
This consultation supports the work of the newly established Accelerating Infrastructure Taskforce, composed of senior experts from across government and the semi-state sector. Its aim is to provide an evidence-based assessment of infrastructure development timelines, focusing on three critical sectors:
Electricity
Water
Transport
Insights gathered from this consultation will contribute to the development of a set of high-impact reforms and policy actions for consideration by Government.
Key Objectives
The consultation seeks to:
Identify the principal barriers to timely infrastructure delivery
Analyse the cumulative effect of regulatory and procedural reforms
Gather stakeholder perspectives on potential reforms and accelerators
Ensure community and public voices are represented in shaping policy solutions
Who Should Participate?
Submissions are invited from all interested parties, including:
Infrastructure developers and delivery bodies
Industry professionals and subject matter experts
State agencies and local authorities
Academic and research institutions
Civil society organisations
Members of the public
How to Make a Submission
Deadline: 5 p.m., Friday, 4 July 2025
Submissions can be made via the Department’s consultation platform: [Insert submission link here]
Additional Information
To support this consultation, temporary secondments have been arranged from key state agencies to contribute expertise to the Department’s ongoing work. Over the coming weeks, a comprehensive evidence-gathering process will take place to assess infrastructure development practices across sectors.
Your input will help ensure that proposed reforms reflect both expert insights and public experience, contributing to more effective and efficient infrastructure delivery for Ireland’s future.
The Public Consultation Institute of Ireland (PCII) is committed to engaging citizens and empowering communities through the use of emerging technologies, which are transforming how the Government and citizens communicate and interact. PCII's mission is to bring more people into the public participatory process. Not only will this expand informed public engagement, early studies suggest that it is likely to enhance the diversity and quality of participation. View a list of public consultations currently open at https://www.publicconsultation.ie/haveyoursay