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ARTICLE · 03 AUGUST 2026

Government Fast-Tracks Nine Infrastructure Projects

William Fry LLP
William Fry LLP
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William Fry LLP

William Fry LLP

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Ireland's Critical Infrastructure Act 2026 introduces a statutory framework to accelerate strategically important infrastructure projects through mandatory prioritisation by public bodies. Nine major projects spanning transport, water, and energy have been designated, raising questions about how accelerated delivery will be balanced against climate obligations. The legislation's disapplication of certain climate considerations has sparked debate about the intersection of infrastructure urgency and environme

IrelandReal Estate and Construction
Máire O'Neill
Máire O'Neill
Michelle Martin
Michelle Martin
Eva Barrett
Eva Barrett
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The Critical Infrastructure Act 2026 (the ‘Act‘) establishes a statutory framework to facilitate the delivery of infrastructure projects deemed strategically important to the State.

The legislation empowers the Government to designate specified projects and programmes as “critical infrastructure,” thereby conferring priority status and requiring public bodies to give them preferential treatment. The category of “public bodies” is already broadly defined, and the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (the ‘Minister‘) has the scope to expand it further to capture additional classes of persons or bodies.

On 24 July 2026, the Government designated the following nine projects as “critical infrastructure” in the core areas of transport, water and energy.

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