Written answer
Legislative Measures
All provisions of the Critical Infrastructure Act 2026 are in force; nine projects have been designated, with early approvals showing progress toward faster delivery.
21. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if all the provisions of the Critical Infrastructure Act 2026 have been commenced. [74524/26]
Comment on this
All provisions of the Critical Infrastructure Act 2026 have been commenced and are now in operation.
The Critical Infrastructure Act provides a framework that allows the Government to designate projects and programmes as critical infrastructure. Once a project is designated, public bodies are required to prioritise it, work together and take steps to accelerate its delivery.
The first tranche of designated projects, covering the energy, transport and water sectors, was approved by Government in July 2026 and the relevant designation Orders have been laid before the Oireachtas. Specifically, the following nine projects have been designated by Government:
• MetroLink.
• Cork Area Commuter Rail Programme.
• Galway City Ring Road.
• Water Supply Project for the Eastern and Midlands Region.
• Greater Dublin Drainage Project.
• Limerick (Bunlicky) Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade and Bioresource Centre.
• North South 400 kV Interconnector.
• Moneypoint 400 kV Series Capacitor Project.
• Letterkenny 110 kV Redevelopment Project.
As I have said previously, my priority is to ensure that this legislation delivers practical improvements in how we deliver critical infrastructure. Designation in itself is not the objective. The objective is to accelerate delivery and improve coordination across the State system where delays arise.
Sponsoring Departments are responsible for overseeing designated projects and engaging with the relevant licensing and consenting authorities to ensure compliance with the Act.
We are already seeing tangible impacts arising from designation. Since designation, An Coimisiún Pleanála has approved planning permission for both the Moneypoint and Letterkenny Projects, while a waste water discharge licence has also been granted for the Greater Dublin Drainage Project. These are clear examples of how designation is helping to support the timely progression of critical infrastructure projects.
My Department will continue to work with sponsoring Departments to ensure that the framework established by the Act supports the timely delivery of strategically important infrastructure projects.