NDP's €275bn infrastructure plan must result in a far greater role for our regional airports
We're about to spend €275bn on infrastructure over the next decade. That's a staggering figure, and one that promises to reshape Ireland's future.
However, while we await allocation details of the National Development Plan (NDP) and the precise projects that will be allocated funding, one thing is clear: we're in danger of over-reliance on one location when it comes to aviation.
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Irish Examiner
18 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Surveyors urge Government to accelerate infrastructure spending
The Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI) has encouraged the Government to accelerate infrastructure investment following a report which showed commercial construction cost inflation is holding steady. The SCSI's Tender Price Index, which is published every six months, tracks changes in commercial tender prices in the delivery of commercial construction projects such as office, retail and industrial units. It showed during the first six months of this year, the median rate of commercial construction inflation increased nationally by 1.5%, the same rate as the three preceding six-month periods. The report noted some regional variation in the inflation rate over the first six months of the year, with Munster and Connacht / Ulster experiencing the highest levels at 2% while Dublin experienced 1% inflation in the sector. The rest of Leinster, excluding Dublin, had an inflation rate of 0.5%. In the 12 months to the end of June, inflation in the sector is running at 3%. According to the SCSI, labour shortages and constraints, and the increasing cost of that labour, were among the major challenges facing the sector. 'While overall inflationary pressures have moderated, feedback from quantity surveyors indicates that labour-related costs continue to influence tender pricing across certain projects,' the report said. SCSI vice-president Tomás Kelly said the reduction in the sector's inflation rate over the last few years had been due mainly to reduced supply chain disruption and price volatility for construction materials. 'However, while overall inflationary pressures have moderated, ongoing geopolitical uncertainty, over conflicts and the potential introduction of reciprocal tariffs between the US and the EU have the capacity to cause fresh supply chain disruption,' he said. 'While we believe tender prices will continue to edge higher in the second half of 2025, given global uncertainty, it is very difficult to predict if the moderate rates we have seen over the past two to two and a half years will continue. While it's true that fears of a tariff war may be receding at the moment, that may change.' Last month, the Government updated its National Development Plan, saying it plans to spend €275bn on infrastructure up to 2035. A total of €102bn will be invested in infrastructure projects between 2026 and 2030. Mr Kelly said the current period of tender price stability provides a 'great opportunity for the Government to push forward with the much-needed infrastructure investment across a range of sectors'. He said 'urgent investment' was needed in areas such as the water supply network, wastewater treatment, and the electricity grid. 'Critical investment is also required across the transportation, residential and healthcare sectors,' he said. 'We would also urge the Government to publish the sectoral investment plans in order to provide specific details of the projects and pipeline up to 2030.' The report is based on new-build projects with values in excess of €1m. It is based on median price increases across differing project types and locations. Research for this report is based on responses from chartered quantity surveyors from all around the country, working on commercial projects. It was conducted in July and August.
Irish Times
a day ago
- Irish Times
AI needed to help Ireland's infrastructure withstand climate disasters
A powerful set of available AI tools will help improve the resilience of much of Ireland's ageing infrastructure, which is increasingly exposed due to increased floods, storms and other climate-related disasters, according to consultancy firm Deloitte . The newly reviewed National Development Plan (NDP) 'offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to future-proof Ireland's infrastructure' but AI needs to be widely deployed, said Stephen Prendiville, Deloitte Ireland's infrastructure and sustainability lead. He was commenting on a global report published on Wednesday, which finds AI-enabled infrastructure resilience could help prevent about €65 billion in annual damage worldwide by 2050 – about 15 per cent of projected global losses due to natural disasters. A specific figure for Ireland is not given. With €275 billion planned in the NDP through to 2035, Mr Prendiville said, 'we have the capital needed. We now need to move forward at pace, with smarter planning and data-driven decision-making. AI is rapidly transitioning from being experimental to being an important part of the solution. READ MORE 'With the right vision and collaboration, [AI] can help leaders build infrastructure that's stronger, more efficient, more sustainable and future ready, helping ensure future disruptions are less severe or can be more easily mitigated,' he added. The report by Deloitte's Centre for Sustainable Progress outlines how AI technologies can play a role at every stage of infrastructure life cycles, from planning and prevention to 'rapid post-event recovery'. In urban and regional planning, AI-powered digital predictive models can now support better land use via land elevation data, soil saturation and urban density, it finds. Meanwhile, machine learning can power early warning systems for floods, helping authorities reduce human and economic impacts, while AI-enabled inspection tools can speed up damage assessments and accelerate infrastructure repair, minimising costs and economic disruption, the report says. From storm-related power outages to repeated flooding, Mr Prendiville said Irish infrastructure was increasingly vulnerable to climate impacts. 'New stresses are now also emerging with more extreme temperatures being experienced as a rule in summer and winter.' [ Climate scientists to receive €2.8m for flood future-proofing projects Opens in new window ] A Deloitte survey warned earlier this year that climate change could cost the Irish insurance industry up to €1.5 billion over the next decade, driven by more frequent extreme weather events. 'We found the availability and rising cost of reinsurance was one of the biggest challenges for Irish insurers offering flood-risk cover,' said Noel Garvey, an actuary with Deloitte Ireland. 'If AI, predictive analytics and shared climate intelligence can give governments, scientists, insurers and services the foresight to act earlier, respond faster and recover more effectively, it can turn what are often devastating losses into more manageable challenges, keep more people safe and costs down,' he added. Technology and data were as critical as physical flood defences in protecting against extreme weather events, he said. Storm Éowyn earlier this year resulted in insurance claims of more than €300 million. 'The cascading impacts of persistent power failure, exacerbating the lack of water and telecom service during this time, must be a wake-up call for authorities when it comes to the resilience of our infrastructure,' Mr Garvey said. 'Met Éireann has already set out its ambition to move beyond broad, countrywide weather alerts and towards more localised, geo-specific warning systems,' Mr Prendiville added. 'With the integration of AI and enhanced data and analytics, these forecasts could be made far more precise.'
RTÉ News
2 days ago
- RTÉ News
Engineering firm Egis to create 100 jobs in Dublin
Engineering consultancy Egis has announced the creation of 100 jobs after the company secured a number of new contracts in the last few months. Egis, which has been operating in Ireland since 1994, said it will fill the new roles over the next 12 months, adding that most of the positions will be in engineering. The jobs announcement was made as Tánaiste Simon Harris officially opened the company's revamped engineering headquarters at Classon House in Dundrum in Dublin 14. Egis has already recruited 80 new engineers in the last two years in Ireland, and its total Irish workforce now stands at over 630 with operations across 16 offices and sites. The planned expansion in staff numbers comes after the company's acquisition of Dublin-based JB Barry & Partners in 2023. Egis was recently awarded a new contract by Transport Infrastructure Ireland to operate and maintain the Dublin Tunnel, the Jack Lynch Tunnel and monitor 1,200km of motorway. It is also acting as engineers for the Sisk Sorenson joint venture, which is building the new Adare Bypass, and is involved in the REPower EU Energy Survey, which is conducting energy assessments on 4,000 schools in Ireland. Egis also wants to strengthen its ability to support the State's planned investment in infrastructure as outlined in the updated €275 billion National Development Plan. The plan includes major transport projects such as DART+, Metrolink, Bus Connects and key water improvements such as the Greater Dublin Drainage Project and the Shannon to Dublin pipeline. Both Eirgrid and the ESB are also expected to invest in new infrastructure in the coming years. Egis already works in partnership with public sector clients such as Transport Infrastructure Ireland, the National Transport Authority, Iarnród Éireann, Uisce Éireann, local authorities and the OPW. Steve Preece, CEO of Egis in Ireland, said the company's ambition is to help enable the country's stable economic growth through the delivery of essential infrastructure and buildings that can deliver a better and more sustainable future for all. "Our plan to increase staff numbers comes as the Government and state agencies are investing in major infrastructure projects and undertaking updating works on existing infrastructure," he said. "By investing in new staff, we are seeking to position ourselves to successfully compete for a share of this work and to provide the support and expertise required to ensure the Government maximises the return on its investment," he added. Tánaiste Simon Harris said that Egis has already successfully partnered with the Government and with a number of state agencies on the delivery and operation of major infrastructure projects, adding that he welcomes the company's plans to continue expanding and to create 100 new jobs over the next year.
