Following the Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan, which included a specific action to enact legislation to accelerate critical infrastructure (see our briefing linked here), the Government yesterday published the Critical Infrastructure Bill 2026 (the "Bill") which is intended to fast-track the approval processes for critical infrastructure.
The Bill's focus is on infrastructure that enables essential facilities and systems of the State to function effectively, including (but not limited to) (i) transport facilities, (ii) energy generation, transmission and distribution systems, and (iii) water supply, wastewater and waste management systems.
The Bill will apply to projects the purpose of which is the delivery of infrastructure, (i) that are funded by capital investment by or on behalf of the State or by or on behalf of a public body, and (ii) which have been designated as "critical infrastructure projects". The Bill will also apply to programmes comprising two or
