Infrastructure Guidelines

In March 2023, the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform informed Government of changes to the capital appraisal guidelines as part of a package of significant actions aimed at enhancing delivery of the NDP. Circular 06/2023outlined key changes to the Public Spending Code including an increase to thresholds for major projects and the requirements for major projects at different stages in the project lifecycle. Further to this, the Public Spending Code capital appraisal guidelines would be replaced and superseded with a set of Infrastructure Guidelines.

The Infrastructure Guidelines sets out the value for money guidelines for the evaluation, planning and management of public investment projects, including purchase or acquisitions of assets or shareholdings, in Ireland. The Guide replaces the Public Spending Code requirements for capital expenditure outlined in Public Spending Code: A Guide to Evaluating, Planning and Managing Public Investment, December 2019. The arrangements set out in the Guide apply to all public bodies and all bodies in receipt of Exchequer capital funding.

It is the responsibility of government departments and their Accounting Officers to ensure that, where required, departments and agencies draw up their own sector specific procedures for evaluating, planning and managing public investment, which align with the Infrastructure Guidelines.

In February 2026, following on from the recommendations of the Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan, Circular 08/2026 implemented further changes to the Infrastructure Guidelines in terms of the requirements for major projects at different stages in the project lifecycle and an increase to thresholds for major projects in the transport, water and energy sectors.

Guidelines relating to current expenditure can be found at Government Accounting.

Infrastructure Guidelines

Public Private Partnerships

Compliance

Economic Appraisal

Financial Analysis