The Government is set to introduce emergency legislation to fast-track key projects through the planning process under a plan Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers will outline to the 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.
Speaking at Government Buildings this morning, he said the plan will reform "how we deliver on infrastructure across our economy, making critical infrastructure accelerated through the planning process, bringing through emergency powers, but also rebalancing regulation and trying to streamline a lot of the processes, the structures, the silos, which have been embedded in the Irish State for many years".
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%.
Child protection legislation
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.
Funding increases for RTÉ and TG4 recommended
Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport Patrick O'Donovan will tell the 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 the 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 the Government does not allocate new money but confirms the Coalition's intention to consider future funding in line with available budget resources.
