Government committed to removing barriers as Minister tells industry “the best time to build a project is now”
Minister Sean Canney TD said the Government is committed to removing barriers that delay infrastructure delivery and ensuring Ireland continues to invest in housing, transport and regional development.
13 May 2026 | editor@breakingground.news
Addressing guests at the CIF West Region Gala Dinner in Galway, the Minister of State at the Department of Transport said excessive bureaucracy and outdated approval systems had slowed delivery across Ireland and Europe.
“There’s a lot of talk about the construction industry and how it works through partnerships,” he said. “One of the biggest problems we have in Ireland and across Europe is that we have set up a huge amount of processes and paperwork exercises. That actually has choked the system in terms of delivery of projects.”
Minister Canney said Government had taken significant steps over the past year to remove barriers and streamline approvals to accelerate the delivery of projects under the National Development Plan.
“The National Development Plan is there to deliver over the next five years,” he said. “We are paying for underinvestment from the last recession; we recognise that and are trying to catch up.”
Highlighting investment across the west of Ireland, the Minister referenced major transport and infrastructure projects including the N17 and N6 corridors, Galway transport projects, the redevelopment of Ceannt Station and the planned expansion of Oranmore Station.
“We also have the Western Rail Corridor, which will be delivered in the next three to four years,” he said. “These are projects that will be there for generations to come.”
Minister Canney said housing delivery remained a national priority and stressed the importance of continuing to invest in enabling infrastructure.
“We need housing for our young people. We need housing for people who want to come back from abroad and have security,” he said.
He said Government investment through the Land Development Agency, the Housing Activation Fund and local authorities was intended to ensure the infrastructure required for housing delivery was in place.
Minister Canney also pointed to the strength of Ireland’s current investment position compared to other European countries.
“The biggest challenge we have is delivering projects,” he said. “Other countries in Europe have funding but not projects ready to build. We’re in a very good position right now.”
He urged industry and Government to continue working together to ensure projects move ahead without unnecessary delay.
“What we need to do together collectively is ensure we deliver projects now, rather than slowing them down, because the best time to build a project is now,” he said.\
