The general scheme of the Critical Infrastructure Bill proposes to allow the government to make such a designation, subject to Dáil approval.

Once infrastructure has been designed, all State bodies involved in the approval process will be required to prioritise their consideration of it. They will also be required to cooperate and coordinate with each other.

The Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation said the legislation “will create a fast-track channel through existing processes for designated critical infrastructure where projects go to the top of the queue for assessment by decision making bodies”.

Minister Jack Chambers said: “The creation of a Critical Infrastructure Bill is a key measure in the ‘Accelerating Infrastructure’ report and action plan.

“It will address the unacceptable delays in our approval processes by mandating whole-of-State cooperation and creating a fast-track pathway for critical projects and programmes.

“More fundamental reform is necessary and this work is in progress through my Department’s regulatory simplification unit. While this unit does its work to reform the regulatory system, this bill will accelerate the most critical projects through the existing system.

“By establishing a clear legal basis for a limited number of government priorities, the bill will reduce ambiguity and ensure that critical projects and programmes go to the top of the queue for assessment by decision making bodies and receive fast and coordinated attention right across the system.”

The Department says it will work closely with the Office of the Attorney General to draft the legislation over the coming weeks with a view to commencing the legislation in the Oireachtas “at the earliest possible opportunity”.