John Paul O'Shea (Cork North-West, Fine Gael)
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285. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the Critical Infrastructure Bill 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40911/26]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Critical Infrastructure Bill is a central pillar of the Government’s broader infrastructure acceleration agenda. The need for a Bill to fast track a limited number of strategically important projects through approval processes was identified in the Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action published last December.

This Bill has been drafted and introduced on a priority basis to respond to this need. Its primary aim is to allow Government to designate certain projects or programmes as critical. This then requires all public bodies who may have an authorisation function for these projects or programmes to prioritise consideration of them within their approval processes. In practical terms, this means that relevant bodies will be required to prioritise, avoid delay, reduce timelines, parallel processes and cooperate with each other to fast-track designated infrastructure.

The draft Bill was published on April 8 2026. Second Stage debate took place in Dáil Éireann on April 14. The Select Committee On Infrastructure And National Development Plan Delivery considered the Bill on April 22. Report and Final Stages took place in the Dáil on 13 May.

The Bill is now being considered by Seanad Éireann. Second Stage took place on 20 May and I expect that Committee and Report Stages will be scheduled soon. Pending the completion of these stages and signature by Uachtarán na hÉireann, I intend to commence the legislation as soon as possible.