The review is set to be undertaken by the new Regulatory Simplification Unit which has been established in the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation.

It will involve analysing and mapping existing processes and conducting workshops with the bodies involved in consenting, permitting and licensing to identify and remove bottlenecks.

The new unit will also identify opportunities to enhance cooperation and streamline processes for more effective delivery of the National Development Plan; and focus on simplifying and improving the complex consenting, permitting and licensing systems across critical infrastructure sectors that support housing delivery — energy, transport and water infrastructure.

Minister Jack Chambers said: “The ‘Accelerating Infrastructure’ report and action plan identified an urgent need to simplify overlapping and unduly complex regulatory frameworks in order to speed up infrastructure delivery.

“Individually, these frameworks have value, but we have seen a build up of complex and overlapping consenting, permitting and licensing processes which only work to slow down delivery.

“The work of the Accelerating Infrastructure taskforce, which I chair, found that the pre-planning stage for major projects are taking too long. The pre-planning processes can lead to in excess of one year timelines for a national roads project and up to three or four years for the development of the national electricity network and water and waste-water projects.

“Unnecessary delays need to be removed to accelerate the delivery of critical infrastructure in our energy, water and transport sectors. It is the responsibility of government, our regulatory bodies and state companies, to deliver change for our communities.

“I have set up a Regulatory Simplification Unit in my Department to ensure this work is approached with urgency and the team will be working closely with all relevant stakeholders to identify and remove bottlenecks.”