Fine Gael TD Joe Neville has welcomed the Cabinet’s move to name the first projects to be accelerated under the Critical Infrastructure Act, describing it as a major advance for delivery.

The Cabinet has designated an initial set of schemes to benefit from expedited processes under the new law, which aims to speed up essential national projects by streamlining approvals and coordination across the State.

Deputy Joe Neville, Fine Gael's spokesperson on Infrastructure and Delivery said: "This shows Government is committed to critical infrastructure delivery and removes the red tape which was slowing major projects.

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"The introduction of the Act ensures all state agencies work together efficiently with unnecessary delays reducing where possible."

The first tranche includes nine projects: Metrolink in Dublin; the Cork Area Commuter Rail; the Galway Ring Road; the Eastern & Midlands Water Supply Project; the Greater Dublin Drainage scheme; the Bunlicky Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade in Limerick; the North-South Interconnector; the Moneypoint series Capacitor Project in Laois; and the Letterkenny Station Redevelopment in Donegal.

Deputy Neville said: "There is a variety of projects announced in the first tranche from water upgrades to roads, to electricity and public transport.

"It's important to have a wide range of delivery, as all forms of infrastructure are needed to keep up with the country's expected growth in population.

"Paired with the Government's €275bn allocation of capital for infrastructure under the National Development Plan, the Critical Infrastructure Act is another piece of the jigsaw in ensuring we can deliver infrastructure effectively."