Engineers Warn State Infrastructure Projects are Less Attractive to the Sector Ahead of National Conference
The Association of Consulting Engineers of Ireland (ACEI) has warned that delays in infrastructure delivery are continuing to hold back housing development across Ireland, as it launches its flagship conference, Engineering Ireland’s Future.
Taking place on May 14th at Croke Park, the conference will bring together industry leaders, policymakers and experts to examine how engineering can shape Ireland’s future by addressing critical challenges in housing, infrastructure and climate adaptation, and what must change to ensure infrastructure keeps pace with Ireland’s future needs.
With housing demand continuing to outpace supply, the ACEI is calling for greater collaboration between Government and the engineering sector to ensure infrastructure is planned and delivered across Ireland, and for stronger recognition of the role consulting engineers play in enabling housing delivery.
The conference will explore the role of Irish consulting engineers in the global economy, and the key barriers currently impacting project delivery. It will also examine the engineering talent shortage, the growing use of digital and AI-driven solutions, and the need to build more resilient and sustainable infrastructure.
The event will feature a keynote address from Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, Jack Chambers, who is expected to provide an update on progress made under the Government’s Accelerating Infrastructure Report.
He will be joined by Professor Bent Flyvbjerg, a globally recognised authority on megaprojects and infrastructure delivery, who advises governments worldwide on improving project outcomes.
Other speakers include Sean O’Driscoll (President, Glenn Dimplex Group), Professor Brian Caulfield, Ferga Kane (EY), Fergal O’Rourke (Chair IDA), Colette O’Shea (Head of Strategic Procurement for Ireland, AECOM), Kevin Rudden (CEO, Garland), Patrice McVeigh (Sustainability Associate Director, OCSC), Graeme Tinney (Executive Director AON), Jim Oliver (Nicolas O’Dwyer), Sinead Timoney (Managing Director, Fehily Timoney), Françoise Basselot (EGIS) and John Brennan (Managing Director, ORS). Former RTE Industry and Employment Correspondent Ingrid Miley will host the conference.
The event will conclude with a CEO debate on how the sector can strengthen its influence and ensure engineering is fully recognised as a key driver of Ireland’s future development.
Director General of ACEI, Shane Dempsey, said the conference comes at a critical time for Ireland’s infrastructure and housing system:
“If Ireland is to meet its housing targets and deliver the infrastructure required for economic growth, consulting engineers must be empowered to design and deliver the solutions that make it possible.
At last year’s conference, we identified a number of practical solutions which were submitted to Government and to Minister Jack Chambers aimed at accelerating delivery. We look forward to receiving an update on that progress.
This conference is about moving from ambition to action and ensuring engineering is central to Ireland’s future.”
Remaining tickets are available from www.acei.ie (€230 – ACEI Members / €260 – Non-Members. 10% discount for group bookings (5+). Attendees will gain 5 CPD hours).
