Government to Require Clearer Communication with Communities on Major Infrastructure Projects
New national framework aims to help communities better understand how infrastructure supports housing, transport, water services and flood protection
Communities across Ireland can expect to receive clearer and more accessible information about major infrastructure projects under new measures announced by the Government, which are designed to improve public understanding of why projects are needed, how they will benefit local areas and what the consequences could be if they are delayed or do not proceed.
The announcement by the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, Jack Chambers TD, introduces a new Benefits Realisation Framework alongside guidance for regulators to improve transparency and accountability in infrastructure delivery. Both initiatives form part of the Government’s Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan (AIRAP), which seeks to reduce delays while strengthening public engagement and confidence in the delivery of nationally important projects.
A central objective of the new framework is to ensure that communities receive information in plain, understandable language rather than relying solely on technical planning or appraisal documents. Public bodies responsible for sponsoring, funding or communicating infrastructure projects will now be expected to explain not only what a project involves, but also how it will improve everyday life through better transport, increased housing capacity, improved water services, flood protection and wider economic and social benefits.
The framework also introduces a new requirement for public bodies to explain the costs of inaction, helping communities understand the long-term implications of projects not proceeding. While infrastructure projects are already subject to detailed economic, environmental and social appraisal, the Government says this evidence will now be presented in a way that is more meaningful and accessible for the public during engagement and consultation processes.
The examples published alongside the framework illustrate how infrastructure investment is intended to support future communities. MetroLink is expected to directly support approximately 31,700 additional homes while unlocking development potential across more than 9,000 hectares of land. The Greater Dublin Drainage project is expected to facilitate the delivery of up to 185,000 homes while providing wastewater services for around 500,000 people, addressing an anticipated 50% increase in wastewater demand in the Greater Dublin Area by 2050. The Eastern and Midlands Water Supply Project is planned to secure water supplies serving around 900,000 homes.
The Government has also highlighted the potential consequences of delaying critical infrastructure. Without MetroLink and other planned transport projects, increased congestion and longer commuting times are estimated to cost an additional €2 billion every year by 2033. Failure to deliver the Eastern and Midlands Water Supply Project is projected to result in a 34% deficit in water supply by 2044. In Cork, the Lower Lee Flood Relief Scheme has been highlighted as an example of the value of communicating future risks, with the scheme expected to protect around €1 billion in property assets while reducing the risk of flooding to approximately 900 homes and 1,200 businesses.
To support the new approach, the Benefits Realisation Framework is accompanied by a policy and principles document, a practical implementation guide and a Benefits Blueprint tool. Public sector organisations will be expected to bring together policy, engineering and communications teams from the earliest stages of project development so that the evidence gathered throughout project appraisal is consistently reflected in public engagement and communications.
Alongside the communications framework, the Department has published new Best Practice KPI Guidance for Regulators of Critical Infrastructure, aimed at improving transparency around how infrastructure applications are assessed. The guidance encourages regulators to monitor and publish performance measures such as application processing times, decision-making timelines, Requests for Information, and other key metrics that help identify delays and bottlenecks within the regulatory system. It also recommends regular reporting t improve accountability and allow both applicants and the public to better understand how regulatory processes are performing.
The guidance builds on the Accelerating Infrastructure Action Plan published in December 2025, which identified regulatory complexity as a significant challenge to delivering housing, transport, energy, water and other strategic infrastructure. It recommends that public bodies adopt internationally recognised performance measures and publish results on a quarterly and annual basis to improve transparency, consistency and public confidence in infrastructure delivery.
The publication of both the Benefits Realisation Framework and the Best Practice KPI Guidance marks a change in how major infrastructure projects will be communicated with communities. As well as seeking to accelerate delivery, the new measures are intended to provide citizens with clearer information about why projects are proposed, how they support housing and essential public services, and what the long-term impacts could be if critical infrastructure is delayed or not delivered.
Download KPI Guidance:
Best_Practice_KPI_Guidance_for_Regulators_of_Critical_Infrastructure