Minister Chambers Urges Civil Servants to «Take Risks» for Faster Project Delivery

Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers announced that the government will explicitly encourage civil servants to «take risks» to accelerate major construction and infrastructure projects. Speaking at the Association of Consulting Engineers of Ireland conference, Chambers stated that «risk aversion is holding us back» and emphasized the need to move away from excessive bureaucracy and «multiple layers of process.» New «risk appetite statements» will be published to signal that public servants should prioritize delivery and speed over overly cautious administrative procedures.

Chambers defended the government’s €275 billion capital spending program until 2035, calling it the «largest per-capita building programme of any EU member state.» He assured that infrastructure spending would not be diverted to cover current expenditure overruns, noting that previous economic downturns saw capital projects cut, a cost now being paid. The government is maintaining €4 billion in unallocated capital funding to incentivize delivery agencies in housing, transport, water, and energy sectors.

The minister highlighted reforms already underway, such as removing an «external assurance process» from infrastructure approval guidelines, which cut 26 weeks from the Waterford Wastewater Treatment Plant project timeline. Changes also allowed Uisce Éireann to advance the Greater Dublin Drainage Project by 12 months, from late 2032 to 2031. Chambers attributed delays and rising costs to judicial reviews and overlapping regulatory checks, advocating for «regulatory simplification» and reducing unnecessary duplication.

A new national procurement strategy, including reforms to public works contracts and dispute resolution, will be presented to the government within weeks to speed up delivery and encourage more firms to tender. Chambers also addressed legal obstacles, confirming the State seeks to reduce them through the proposed Critical Infrastructure Bill. Separately, he noted the government has not fully considered local property tax implications for planned exemptions for modular homes built in back gardens, an issue requiring further assessment despite Revenue confirming modular homes would be liable for local property tax and require separate Eircodes. The government aims to encourage modular homes to boost housing supply, including proposals for rent-a-room relief up to €14,000 tax-free annually.