According to Paul O’Neill, Co-Head of Infrastructure at KPMG in Ireland, the country faces a critical challenge in delivering its infrastructure ambitions. Despite having the necessary capital and a stable economy, Ireland’s competitive position is under pressure.

Ireland’s Infrastructure Opportunity

Ireland possesses many attractive features for infrastructure investors, including a stable economy, sustained demand, and significant public investment commitments. However, the market’s confidence in the country’s ability to deliver projects predictably and quickly is waning.

A recent KPMG survey reveals that while there is cautious optimism about the scale of the opportunity, confidence in delivery timelines and pipeline visibility is more measured. The survey, which gathered insights from developers, housebuilders, contractors, funders, and industry bodies, highlights the need for Ireland to address structural barriers to infrastructure delivery.

KEO’s Rebranding and Expansion in Ireland

KEO’s local operations in Ireland will continue unchanged, maintaining the same ownership, structure, and team. All services, client relationships, and projects remain intact. The transition to the KEO name aims to strengthen the company’s presence in Ireland and support its European growth.

According to Dorothy Maguire, Director of Sustainability at KEO, the change provides clients with access to a broader range of expertise while preserving the team’s commitment to sustainable building and client relationships. The move allows KEO to bring the full capabilities of an international group to projects in Ireland.

Structural Barriers to Delivery

The survey identifies several key constraints, including lengthy planning and consenting processes, limited utility and connection capacity, policy uncertainty, procurement delays, and weak coordination among public bodies. These issues are beyond the control of developers and contractors, requiring coordinated action from government departments, regulators, local authorities, utilities, and delivery agencies.

One of the most pressing priorities is planning reform. Respondents view delays and uncertainty as significant barriers to housing and infrastructure delivery, with faster permitting seen as an important factor in enabling sector growth. Additionally, better coordination between infrastructure investment, utilities, and land-use planning is essential to ensure that land is fully serviced and ready for development.

The Irish government has acknowledged these challenges, with a renewed focus on infrastructure spending and delivery through the National Development Plan. The establishment of the Accelerating Infrastructure Taskforce marks a key change in government policy with a full programme of reforms to speed up the pace of infrastructure delivery in Ireland. The taskforce reforms are wide-ranging and full, and we are already starting to see tangible outputs, including the publication of the Critical Infrastructure Bill and key regulatory changes. Momentum is building, and many of the enabling conditions for investment and delivery are beginning to improve.

The market is not seeking another broad statement of ambition; it wants implementation, accountability, and measurable outcomes. The leading priorities are:

• Faster planning and permitting, supported by clearer processes and statutory timelines
• Greater transparency over the timing and status of the project pipeline
• Better coordination between infrastructure investment, utilities, and land-use planning
• Increased investment in workforce skills, apprenticeships, and delivery capability
• More collaborative procurement and contracting arrangements
• Improved risk allocation, governance, and programme certainty

Reform therefore needs to address not only policy and planning but also the practical ways projects are designed, procured, governed, and delivered.

Housing and Infrastructure Integration

The housing sector illustrates the interplay between infrastructure constraints and development. Respondents highlight labor availability, financing pressures, and policy uncertainty as significant barriers to increasing housing supply. Additionally, utility connection limitations and the need for fully serviced land are critical factors that must be addressed before large-scale development can proceed.

The report emphasizes that housing delivery cannot be tackled in isolation. It must be integrated with investments in transport, utilities, and serviced land. Better alignment between land-use planning and infrastructure programs would increase the availability of development-ready sites. While the government’s focus on infrastructure-led housing delivery is welcome, the market still does not fully buy into the roadmap for infrastructure delivery.

Market participants are generally optimistic about future activity, with most organizations expecting increased involvement in Irish infrastructure over the next one to three years. Strong tendering activity for public-sector-led housing projects indicates ongoing private sector engagement.

Ireland’s infrastructure opportunity remains substantial, with a market ready to invest, tender, collaborate, and expand. The primary risk lies in the delivery system’s lack of speed, certainty, coordination, and capacity. Success hinges on translating the National Development Plan and taskforce reforms into a credible pipeline of deliverable projects, ensuring faster decisions, serviced land, coordinated utilities, stronger skills, transparent programs, and collaborative procurement.

As Paul O’Neill concludes, Ireland’s strong economic fundamentals and substantial investment requirements remain compelling, but execution is key. The country must demonstrate its commitment to addressing infrastructure deficits and creating an environment conducive to investment and growth, ensuring that its competitiveness and market confidence are determined by tangible results.