Dublin Chamber said it strongly welcomes the Government's plan to remove the barriers to delivering vital infrastructure projects that will unlock housing and enable economic activity across Ireland.
But Mary Rose Burke, Dublin Chamber's CEO, warned that unless these changes are implemented in full and with urgency, activity in Dublin will grind to a halt.
"Without vital projects such as Metrolink, DART+ and LUAS extensions, the daily gridlock on Dublin's streets will only get worse. Without water and wastewater and better grid connections, as well as more public transport, the housing to meet the needs of Dublin's growing population will not be built," she said.
"This action sends a strong signal to investors, employers and residents that Ireland is serious about building the infrastructure a growing, modern capital city urgently needs," she said.
"With the right reforms in place, projects stuck in the planning process can finally progress. This will support economic growth, improve quality of life, and restore much-needed confidence in the Government’s ability to deliver," she added.
Ibec
Ibec's chief executive Danny McCoy said today's Acceleration Infrastructure Taskforce report highlights the barriers to infrastructure delivery in Ireland right now.
He said it is "critical" that Government implements the recommended reforms fully and urgently.
"Ineffective infrastructure delivery creates a recipe for long-term competitiveness losses, seriously compounding our current capacity constraints and infrastructural bottlenecks, which are holding the economy back," he said.
"Improving infrastructure delivery is possible through regulatory simplification as well as the necessary strategic investment. The State must also invest in the skills and expertise required for accelerated delivery," he added.
EY
Sean Casey, EY Ireland Partner and Energy Sector Lead, said that water, energy, and other utilities are the essential building blocks for a prosperous society that enable economic and social development.
"While there are always trade-offs in the delivery of major infrastructure projects, these recommendations seek to rebalance the scales in favour of delivery and the public good," he said.
"We've shown with the roll out of the national broadband network and other key utility and infrastructure projects that we can deliver on time and under budget. Now we need to roll up our collective sleeves and get to it," he added.
Irish Institutional Property
Irish Institutional Property (IIP) said the Government must now move to speedily implement its recommendations and pass all necessary enabling legislation as soon as possible.
It said the report's objective to remove long standing barriers that slow down the delivery of housing and related infrastructure is a positive and overdue step that can reshape how Ireland plans, funds and builds the essential assets that support sustainable growth.
"Now that the report has been published the priority must be delivery. Government now has the opportunity to turn strong proposals into action. We encourage Ministers and departments to move quickly, provide clear timelines and ensure the system wide changes recommended are implemented without delay," it said.
"Ireland cannot afford further drift. The Task Force report offers real solutions. Now we need to see them put into practice," it concluded.
ESB Networks
ESB Networks said it welcomed the Government's Accelerating Infrastructure Report and detailed Action Plan for accelerating infrastructure delivery.
It said the introduction of specific, time bound actions to remove existing barriers in the delivery of infrastructure, many of which are due to be actioned in the coming few months, will have a sustained and long-term transformational impact on the delivery of vital electricity infrastructure.
Nicholas Tarrant, ESB Networks Managing Director, said today’s report and action plan demonstrated the value of cross industry collaboration in helping to identify and unblock the key barriers to infrastructure delivery.
"This report and action plan represent a major step forward and will bring increased momentum and focus to the delivery of key national infrastructure. ESB Networks is embarking on our largest ever programme of investment in the electricity network, reflecting the strategic importance of the electricity network in enabling social, economic and environmental transformation over the coming decades," he said.
"By working together to implement these actions we can accelerate progress and deliver the infrastructure needed to meet the energy needs of our growing population, support a thriving economy, and achieve our climate ambitions," he added.
Wind Energy Ireland
The Irish wind energy industry today welcomed the publication of the Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan.
Wind Energy Ireland CEO Noel Cunniffe said the country's system for delivering critical infrastructure in Ireland, including renewable energy, is not fit for purpose and this has been true for a long time.
"Today's comprehensive report identifies critical actions that can speed up the delivery of clean, affordable, electricity to Irish families and businesses. It means a stronger electricity grid, greater electrification and a more resilient economy," he said.
"This is not a plan that can be allowed to sit on a shelf," he stated.
"It is a commitment our industry will match and we are ready to work alongside Government to ensure these actions are delivered and that the publication of this report is remembered as a key landmark on our journey to energy independence," he added.
EirGrid
EirGrid said today it is committed to supporting and facilitating the timely delivery of "an unprecedented" amount of new infrastructure over the coming years to transform Ireland's power system.
Cathal Marley, the chief executive of EirGrid, said the delivery of grid infrastructure is of significant strategic importance for Ireland, as reflected in today's report.
"It is fundamental to unlocking greater energy independence and security, as well as supporting national and regional economic growth and a resilient society," the CEO said.
He said that electricity infrastructure is not just about keeping the lights on - it supports the delivery of Government policy and targets in key areas such as housing, climate and industry.
"In delivering timely and robust infrastructure, we will continue our public engagement strategy, working with those that may be affected by our plans. On each project, we engage with landowners, community representatives, interest groups and local stakeholders. Engaging with the public is essential for our work," he added.
