Nine projects and programmes are being designated by the Government as critical infrastructure.
Nine projects and programmes are being designated by the Government as critical infrastructure.
Cabinet has decided to designate the first tranche of projects under the Critical Infrastructure Act.
This means the projects will be placed under new powers, placing them at the 'top of the queue' for faster processing.
Nine projects have been announced under the first tranche, including key infrastructure such as the Metrolink, the Cork Area Commuter Rail and the Galway Ring Road.
Two projects in particular are expected to have a positive effect on Kildare and surrounding areas.
One project, the Greater Dublin Drainage scheme, involves the development of a new regional wastewater treatment facility, alongside associated infrastructure, to serve north Dublin and parts of the surrounding counties of Kildare and Meath.
It was granted planning permission by An Coimisiún Pleanála in July 2025.
As well as this, the Eastern & Midlands Water Supply Project has been said to potentially have capacity to address supply water needs for up to 50% of the State’s population.
The full list of projects is as follows:
- Metrolink in Dublin.
- the Cork Area Commuter Rail.
- the Galway Ring Road.
- the Eastern & Midlands Water Supply Project.
- the Greater Dublin Drainage scheme.
- the Bunlicky Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade in Limerick.
- the North-South Interconnector.
- the Moneypoint series Capacitor Project in Laois.
- the Letterkenny Station Redevelopment in Donegal.

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