880. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if he has considered designating large scale geological energy storage projects under the Critical Infrastructure Act 2026 process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55962/26]

The Critical Infrastructure Act 2026 provides a statutory basis for the acceleration of decision-making in relation to projects and programmes that are designated as critical infrastructure. The Act requires that all reasonable steps be taken by public bodies, both individually and collectively, to progress any functions that they may have in relation to these projects and programmes as quickly as possible.

Section 1 of the Act specifically highlights transport, energy and water infrastructure in the definition of infrastructure. However, it does not limit the potential to include other infrastructure should it be considered necessary. The Act does require that any projects or programmes designated must be funded by capital investment, by or on behalf of the State or by or on behalf of a public body.

Section 3 of the Act sets out how projects or programmes will be designated as critical infrastructure. In summary, the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation will make a recommendation to Government in respect of the designation of an individual project or programme. Government will consider the recommendation, and, if approved, an order designating the project or programme as critical infrastructure will be laid before the Dáil. Provision is also made to allow the Dáil to annul any order laid before it.

This section also sets out those factors that I as Minister may have regard to in making a recommendation to the Government. These factors are as follows:

(a) the need to ensure effective and efficient delivery of a project or programme;

(b) whether delay to, or disruption of, the delivery of a project or programme, or failure to deliver a project or programme, may have adverse economic or social consequences for the State;

(c) whether a project or programme may impact in a positive or negative manner on the delivery of any other project or programme;

(d) the National Development Plan;

(e) such other matters in relation to infrastructure as the Minister may consider appropriate for the purposes of making a recommendation.

Last Friday 24 July, I announced the first wave of projects and programmes to be designated. Three electricity network investment projects were designated. These projects will help strengthen the national electricity network, improve system resilience, reduce electricity costs to consumers and support Ireland's transition to a low carbon economy.

It is also worth noting that this Act is just one of the means being pursued 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.