Ireland's infrastructure market is changing rapidly.

Over the past 18 months we've seen a huge increase in interest from contractors, consultants and suppliers looking to establish or expand their presence in Ireland.

While major transport programmes have been discussed for years, many are now moving into procurement and delivery, with the National Development Plan of €275 billion representing Ireland’s largest capital investment pipeline ever.

At Newsom Consulting, we're pleased to be supporting Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) on leadership hiring for the MetroLink programme. It's given us the opportunity to engage with many of the organisations shaping Ireland's infrastructure market, providing a unique perspective on how Ireland's infrastructure sector is evolving.

International firms are looking to Ireland

One of the biggest changes has been the growing number of British contractors and consultants establishing offices in Dublin.

The volume of upcoming opportunities is becoming too significant to ignore.

MetroLink is the headline project, but it sits within a much wider programme of investment. Irish Rail’s enhancements (such as DART+), BusConnects, the planned Luas extensions, the airport development plans, ESB’s €20bn programme and huge investment in the water sector are creating a burgeoning pipeline of work over the coming years.

For many UK businesses, where the transport infrastructure market has slowed, Ireland represents an attractive growth opportunity. At the same time, major European organisations are positioning themselves to compete for these programmes, recognising the long-term potential of the market.

A more attractive contracting environment

Another factor encouraging overseas investment is the wider adoption of NEC contracts.

Historically, infrastructure clients in Ireland have used forms of contract and terms which were less attractive for international businesses unfamiliar with local procurement approaches.

The increasing use of NEC contracts represents a more collaborative way of working, bringing Ireland closer to the commercial models that many UK and European contractors (operating in the UK) are already accustomed to. That familiarity is helping reduce barriers to entry and increasing confidence in the market.

Diversification is driving competition

Ireland has traditionally been known for a strong building market in residential, data centres, hospitals, life sciences and other commercial developments. For many Irish based contractors, civil engineering has represented only a small proportion of their overall business.

That is beginning to change.

As investment in transport and utilities accelerates, many organisations see infrastructure as an opportunity to diversify their portfolios, creating additional competition for major projects and increasing demand for experienced leadership teams.

The biggest challenge remains people

While the project pipeline is growing, the talent pool has not expanded at the same pace.

There are a relatively limited number of leaders in Ireland who have experience delivering large-scale infrastructure programmes. As a result, organisations need to look beyond the domestic market.

The options are to invest heavily in developing local talent, or to recruit internationally. Particularly targeting experienced professionals from the UK and Europe.

There is also significant interest in attracting Irish professionals working overseas back home, bringing valuable experience from major international major programmes attracted by the opportunity to help deliver landmark projects in their own country.

However, relocation is not without its challenges.

The high cost of living in Dublin and availability of housing remains one of the biggest barriers to attracting experienced professionals. Unlike some UK infrastructure projects where leaders may work away during the week, many organisations in Ireland are looking to attract people who will relocate permanently and become part of the local leadership team.

European nationals often ask about the availability of international schools in Dublin before considering a relocation. Dublin has fewer international schools than comparable European cities (it has seven) but still includes several offering different key stages of the International Baccalaureate.

An exciting period ahead

Ireland's infrastructure sector appears to be entering a new phase.

The challenge now is ensuring there are enough experienced leaders to deliver these programmes successfully.

For organisations entering the Irish market, leadership hiring is becoming just as important as winning the work itself. Those that can successfully attract, relocate and retain experienced people are likely to have a significant competitive advantage as the market continues to grow.