The Academy were invited and attended a meeting on 8th October 2025 in Leinster House with the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Infrastructure and NDP Delivery.
The Academy team consisted of:
Sean Finlay – President 2025-2026
Tom Leahy – Special Advisor, Director & Past President
Tim Corcoran –Infrastructure committee(Chair) & Hon. Treasurer
Anne Marie Connibear – Academy Fellow
Both ACEI and Engineers Ireland(EI) were also invited to address the meeting.
A power point presentation and detailed written response was prepared in advance by the Academy and supplied in advance of the meeting to JOC.
Key Actions recommended by the Academy:
- Align policy and planning to 2050 across water, energy and transport, with minister-adopted sector masterplans where necessary that cascade into national, regional and local plans.
- Provide multi-annual, ring-fenced funding for priority programmes (especially water and energy for housing), based on sector specific five-year funding plans.
- Streamline approvals so expert semi-state companies can deliver projects with minimal ministerial approval and approval by their own Boards.
- Modernise planning and environmental consenting, including proportionate processes for small works and clear mandates for delivery.
- Legislate for the common good so critical infrastructure can proceed without undue delay.
Expected impact
- Faster delivery of projects that unlock housing and jobs.
- Lower whole-of-state cost: a €1 billion project delivered over ten years at 7% annual construction inflation can cost €2 billion; faster delivery frees about €1 billion for other needs.
- Capacity for c. 50,000 housing units/year, supported by ~€2 billion additional ring-fenced investment in water (about €1.7 billion for high-density urban housing and €300 million for small rural schemes). The Housing activation office in the DHLGH has been assigned funding to cover network extensions for energy, roads and water in addition to this.
The Academy team also highlighted the most relevant recent Academy reports:
Report November 2024 – Strategic Infrastructure – Major Project delivery
Academy response to DPER accelerating infrastructure unit- Academy response to DPER
Academy 2025 Annual Report – 2025 Annual Report
The link to the JOC video is https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/committees/34/infrastructure-and-national-development-plan-delivery/videos/
This is an early win from the recently signed MoU between the Irish Academy of Engineering (IAE )and Engineers Ireland (EI), approved by Engineers Ireland and IAE Council, showing how the two bodies can meaningfully work together to deliver a more impactful voice for the engineering profession in Ireland.
At the MoU Signing on 4 October 2025
Seated- Sean Finlay IAE President & John Jordan Engineers Ireland President
Tom Leahy IAE Special Advisor, Damien Owens EI DG, Dave Murphy EI vice president.
The Irish Academy of Engineering will continue to contribute to this important topic of Infrastructure and NDP delivery and provide thought leadership at a time of great change.