Infrastructure approval timelines cut by up to 20 weeks under new guidelines
Major projects threshold raised to €500m in transport, water and energy sectors
12 February 2026 | editor@breakingground.news
Changes to the State’s Infrastructure Guidelines will remove up to 20 weeks from the approval process for major public projects, the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, Jack Chambers TD, has confirmed.
The amendments, which take effect from 11 February 2026, form part of Action 23 of the Accelerating Infrastructure Report published in December 2025. The changes are designed to streamline decision-making, reduce duplication and accelerate projects to construction.
Under the revised procedures, the External Assurance Process will no longer apply at Approval Gate 1 for major projects. Instead, proposals will undergo a time-bound internal assessment by the relevant Vote section within the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (DPER) to ensure compliance with the Infrastructure Guidelines before progressing to the Major Projects Advisory Group.
At Approval Gate 2, Ministerial sign-off will no longer be required. Projects may now be approved by the Accounting Officer of the sponsoring department. Ministerial approval will continue to apply at Approval Gate 1 and Approval Gate 3.
The financial threshold defining a major project will increase from €200 million to €500 million in the transport, water and energy sectors. Projects above these thresholds remain subject to the full major project governance framework.
A departmental circular issued on 11 February 2026 confirms that the External Assurance Process is replaced with a streamlined, time-bound internal review, and that Gate 2 approvals may now be granted solely by the relevant Accounting Officer. The circular applies to all government departments, local authorities, the HSE and public bodies in receipt of Exchequer funding.
The measures are intended to address delays identified by the Accelerating Infrastructure Taskforce, established in May 2025 to examine barriers to public infrastructure delivery. The Taskforce’s report set out 30 time-bound actions aimed at reducing fragmentation, aligning planning and funding processes, and improving coordination across the system.
Minister Chambers said recent progress, including the commencement of procurement for Metrolink and the Greater Dublin Drainage scheme, demonstrated momentum in infrastructure delivery.
“The changes today will cut on average 20 weeks from the project approval process to significantly speed up infrastructure delivery,” he said.
The Minister also confirmed that further reforms are due in the coming weeks, including publication of proposed Critical Infrastructure legislation intended to fast-track projects deemed to be in the national interest through planning, licensing and other consenting stages.
Additional elements of Action 23, including guidance on timelines for preliminary business case preparation and a review of dual approval processes in the water sector, will be addressed through a broader review of Public Financial Procedures.
The updated requirements apply to all new public investment proposals from 11 February 2026. Projects already progressing through the expenditure lifecycle must comply with the revised framework as they advance.
