Major review of regulations to tackle barriers to infrastructure delivery to commence
-
From: Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation
- Published on: 25 February 2026
- Last updated on: 25 February 2026
Minister Jack Chambers announces a new Regulatory Simplification Unit has been established to support speedier delivery of critical infrastructure projects
Circular to issue to all Government Departments and Agencies instructing on core principles of regulation design and implementation in coming weeks
The Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, Jack Chambers TD has established a new Infrastructure Regulatory Simplification Unit in his Department.
The establishment of the Unit marks the commencement of Action 9 of the Accelerating Infrastructure Action Plan, which aims to support the simplification of overlapping and unduly complex regulatory frameworks.
This complexity is leading to delays in the delivery of critical infrastructure.
The new Unit will:
- Conduct a risk-based review of the current regulatory landscape. This will involve analysing and mapping existing processes and conducting workshops with the bodies involved in consenting, permitting and licensing to identify and remove bottlenecks.
- Identify opportunities to enhance cooperation and streamline processes for more effective delivery of the National Development Plan; and
- Focus on simplifying and improving the complex consenting, permitting and licensing systems across critical infrastructure sectors that support housing delivery – energy, transport and water infrastructure.
Minister Chambers will direct officials to issue a circular to all Departments and Regulatory Bodies setting out Principles for Better Regulation in the coming weeks.
The Circular will outline core principles which should be considered by Departments and Bodies when designing, implementing and reviewing regulation for example Necessity, Effectiveness, Proportionality, Transparency, Accountability, and Consistency.
The Unit will work closely with relevant Government Departments, Regulatory Bodies and State Utilities to identify reforms with impact that can be implemented to transform Ireland’s infrastructure delivery.
Commenting today, Minister Chambers said:
“The Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan identified an urgent need to simplify overlapping and unduly complex regulatory frameworks in order to speed up infrastructure delivery.
“Individually, these frameworks have value, but we have seen a build up of complex and overlapping consenting, permitting and licensing processes which only work to slow down delivery.
“The work of the Accelerating Infrastructure Taskforce, which I chair, found that the pre-planning stage for major projects are taking too long. The pre- planning processes can lead to in excess of 1 year timelines for a national roads project and up to 3 or 4 years for the development of the national electricity network and water and waste-water projects.
“Unnecessary delays need to be removed to accelerate the delivery of critical infrastructure in our energy, water and transport sectors. It is the responsibility of Government, our regulatory bodies and state companies, to deliver change for our communities.
“I have set up a Regulatory Simplification Unit in my Department to ensure this work is approached with urgency and the team will be working closely with all relevant stakeholders to identify and remove bottlenecks.”
Relevant Links