The Government is set to introduce emergency legislation to fast-track key projects through the planning process under a plan the Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers will this morning outline to Cabinet.
The Accelerating Infrastructure Action Plan is aiming to cut red tape in order to deliver more housing, roads, water treatment plants, energy sub stations, hospitals and other critical infrastructure.
It also contains measures to reform judicial reviews.
These include the introduction of a test on the likelihood of a review being successful before leave is granted take one.
Those who can take a judicial review will also be limited to people who are directly impacted by a proposed project
The number of judicial review cases has increased in recent years and there are currently more than 130 before the courts.
Minister Chambers said at the weekend that individuals and groups are weaponising existing procedures and requirements for narrow, personal interests to stop or delay the delivery of critical projects which are in the national interest.
Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien will also seek Government approval for a public consultation on measures to cut fees paid to those who take successful environmental judicial reviews.
It is aiming to reduce the financial burden on the Exchequer for environmental judicial reviews.
The move could slash fees by between 63% and 77%.
Meanwhile, Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan will inform Government of a pilot project which will see tasers issued to 128 frontline uniformed gardaí.
It will run for six months in the Dublin, Waterford, Kilkenny divisions.
Minister for Children, Disability and Equality Norma Foley is bringing a memo to Cabinet seeking approval for the publication of the Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2025.
This is an update of key child protection legislation which was first put in place in 1991.
It will provide for greater cooperation and coordination across agencies and departments, to promote a more agile response across the State in keeping children safe from harm.
The Bill will also place the National Review Panel on a statutory footing.
The National Review Panel conducts reviews of child deaths and serious incidents. It produces reports with recommendations to improve the quality of services provided to children and families.
Patrick O'Donovan, the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport will tell Government that Coimisiún na Meán has recommended funding increases for RTÉ and TG4 to help them meet their public service obligations.
This followed the media regulator's statutory five year funding review of both organisations.
The minister will tell his colleagues that Government has already acted after it raised RTÉ funding to €240 million in 2026 and to €260m for 2027.
While TG4's funding increased to €65.4m for 2026.
The memo the minister will bring to Government does not allocate new money but confirms the Coalition's intention to consider future funding in line with available budget resources.
