Ireland designates nine projects as critical infrastructure

Priority treatment in planning and consent procedures for nine major transport, water and electricity grid projects — including Dublin's MetroLink, Cork Area Commuter Rail and the Galway City Ring Road.

On 24 July 2026 the Irish government designated the first nine schemes as critical infrastructure under the Critical Infrastructure Act 2026: MetroLink (Dublin), Cork Area Commuter Rail, the Galway City Ring Road, a water supply project for the east and midlands, Greater Dublin Drainage, the Bunlicky wastewater treatment plant and three electricity grid projects. The designation is intended to run consent steps in parallel and cut procedural timelines substantially without relaxing environmental requirements. Minister Jack Chambers is responsible.