​The Irish Government has unveiled a €24 billion investment programme that will shape the country’s roads, rail, aviation, maritime and active travel infrastructure over the next four years. Published under the National Development Plan, the programme sets out an extensive pipeline of projects that will influence industry, employment and regional connectivity across Ireland.

More than €10 billion has been committed to public transport. Phase 1 of the Cork Area Commuter Rail Programme will move ahead alongside the construction of DART+ in Dublin and the replacement of the existing DART fleet. Work will also begin on the Western Rail Corridor between Athenry and Claremorris. MetroLink, the flagship transport project for north Dublin, remains a core priority within the plan. Additional investment will fund the expansion of the electric bus fleet and the construction of multiple Core Bus Corridors in Dublin, with similar schemes expected in Cork and Galway.

The Minister for Transport highlighted that the scale of active public transport development is unprecedented and reiterated that the Government is fully backing major schemes such as MetroLink and Luas Finglas. While public transport is heavily supported, the Minister noted that roads remain essential for connectivity, safety, environmental performance and economic activity.

The Government also plans to invest €9.7 billion in national and regional roads. This funding will support the Slane Bypass, the Galway City Ring Road, the N17 route from Knock to Collooney in County Sligo, the M20 linking Cork and Limerick and an upgraded route from Limerick to Foynes, including the Adare Bypass. Further regional projects will include the Mallow Relief Road, the Ardee Bypass, the N3 upgrade from Clonee to the M50 and the Foxford Transport Project.

Active travel and sustainability initiatives will receive €1.8 billion to deliver around 1,000 kilometres of new and improved walking and cycling infrastructure by 2030. Additional commitments include €44.6 million for regional airports and €145 million for Irish Coast Guard facilities, including the replacement of the ILV Granuaile vessel.

A decision on the Galway Ring Road is expected within the next few months, with no oral hearing anticipated due to the limited number of submissions. Construction on the Western Rail Corridor is expected to begin in 2028, with enabling works progressing in the meantime. The Minister confirmed that new infrastructure projects will be assessed under the updated planning environment introduced through last year’s Planning and Development Act, which is expected to streamline future delivery.

These investments are expected to create sustained demand for talent across engineering, construction, infrastructure, transport and environmental services. Large-scale public transport programmes such as MetroLink, DART+ and the Western Rail Corridor will require project managers, civil and structural engineers, signalling and electrical specialists, quantity surveyors and a wide range of technical support roles. Road upgrades and regional bypass schemes will continue to drive requirements for site engineers, design teams, health and safety professionals and experienced construction managers.

Active travel, greenways and sustainability-focused projects will also increase the need for planners, environmental engineers, ecologists and specialists in low-carbon design. With activity rising across both public transport and road networks, competition for skilled professionals is likely to intensify over the coming years.

Vickerstock will continue to support organisations across Ireland as they scale their teams to meet the demands of this next phase of national infrastructure development. If your business is preparing for upcoming projects or needs guidance on securing specialist talent, our team is ready to help.