Most companies are not satisfied with the level of progress being made in providing Dublin with the water, wastewater, energy grid, public transport and housing that it needs. In its Q3 Survey published later in the week, Dublin Chamber members reported high levels of dissatisfaction when it comes to the delivery of critical infrastructure. Almost half of respondents (45%) are currently dissatisfied with the delivery of infrastructure for Dublin under the National Development Plan (NDP), with an additional 9% reporting to be very unsatisfied.

Speaking on these findings, Head of Public Affairs, Stephen Browne said “these findings are of little surprise to us. We have been banging the drum to accelerate delivery, looking for detailed milestones and deadlines, but progress has been glacial.

There seems to be very little urgency in the setting of timelines for projects that are vitally important to the continued development of Dublin. Projects such as Metro, Dart+, the Eastern and Midlands Water Supply Project and the Greater Dublin Drainage Scheme are still stuck in early stages of the planning process, with completion dates forecast well into the 2030s and beyond. Many schemes needed now do not even have an indicative commencement date.”

“Population projections outlined in the National Planning Framework have in the past underestimated growth in Dublin, this has led to underinvestment and lack of urgency in major infrastructure projects, this cannot be the case again once the Department of Housing and Local Government finalises its latest revision of the framework. Dublin businesses have been clear for some time, that if sufficient investment in planned projects is not carried out, and on time it will be at the detriment of future generations, while having serious implications for continued investment and growth in our Capital.”

Stephen Browne concluded “Now more than ever, Dublin as Ireland’s only international city of scale, needs investment. Not only in housing but in public transport, water and wastewater infrastructure and the grid. The issues are not complex, the problems have been identified. What is needed now is the political courage to see them to completion on a reasonable timeline”.