City councillor Michael J Crowe tore into the HSE this week at the Regional Health Forum after he was told that the HSE has not yet applied for the development of University Hospital Galway as Critical Infrastructure — a designation that would fast track it through the planning, development and construction process and ensure its delivery years sooner.
Being designated as “Critical Infrastructure” in Ireland fast-tracks a project through the planning and regulatory process. The Critical Infrastructure Bill 2026 mandates that State and public bodies prioritize and expedite these applications to deliver essential energy, transport, and water projects quickly
However, Cllr Crowe feels that as a Model 4 hospital servicing not just Galway, but. alarge tranche of the western seabors and inland should come under this, as its eventual delivery impacts so many people.
As critical infrastructure, any planning application would get mandatory prioritisation: All public bodies and regulatory agencies would prioritise the processing, licensing, and authorization of the development above non-designated projects.
Delays and administrative bottlenecks are minimized. Bodies are legally required to act expeditiously and avoid undue delays while maintaining statutory safeguards. Relevant agencies must cooperate and coordinate decision-making to prevent fragmentation and move the project along a streamlined pathway.
In a response, to his question, Cllr Crowe was told that no such application has yet been made by the HSE. suggesting they do not feel that a hospital would come udner this designation as it is mainly reserved for transport and water infrastrure and that they m,ight revisit that when the legislation is in place.
Niall Colleary, Assistant National Director, Capital & Estates said that the HSE have not to date formally applied to Department of Health for any of the proposed Healthcare developments to be designated as Critical Infrastructure under the proposed Critical Infrastructure legislation.
“The HSE have engaged with the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation – Accelerating Infrastructure Consultation events last year where it was outlined that the focus of the proposed Critical Infrastructure designation was on electricity network, water and transport infrastructure.
“It was confirmed that all sectors would benefit from general improvements to unblock infrastructure development,” he said, adding that the proposed legislation does not preclude healthcare developments being designated critical infrastructure and it may be an avenue the HSE explore further once the legislation is enacted.
Cllr Crowe said that he found the answer “baffling.”
” I have been a public representative for many years and I understood that this is a fast track mechanism and that this is a key juncture in that process.
“UHG is a model 4 hospital with many challenges contained within the site. A signal needs to be sent by the HSE to Government that this is a priority for the region. It doesn’t serve just Galway City and county.
“The infrastructure on the site is not up to the standard of 2026. My fear is that there might be pushback on including it,” he added, but that was denied by the HSE.
