What's Driving Construction Demand in Ireland Right Now? 7 Major Projects to Watch in 2026

 

€5 billion in Leixlip. €432 million in Athlone. Up to €300 million in Kerry. Another €300 million in Meath.

Some of Ireland's biggest construction investments aren't coming at some point in the future. They're already moving.

Across Ireland, major investment in advanced manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, energy, data centres, water infrastructure and public projects is creating a busy construction market and increasing competition for experienced people.

For construction professionals, that's important.

Because when several major projects are progressing at the same time, demand doesn't stop with the people physically building them. It flows through contractors, subcontractors, consultancies and supply chains, increasing demand for Site Engineers, Project Managers, Quantity Surveyors, M&E professionals, Health & Safety specialists, BIM professionals and more.

So, rather than looking at projects that might happen several years from now, we've looked at some of the major construction projects actively progressing in Ireland in 2026 and the skills they're likely to need.

 

1. Intel Leixlip Expansion – €5 Billion

Location: Leixlip, Co. Kildare
Sector: Advanced Manufacturing / Semiconductor
Investment: €5 billion

One of the biggest recent additions to Ireland's construction and engineering pipeline is happening in Leixlip.

In July 2026, Intel announced a further €5 billion capital investment in its Leixlip campus, marking the next stage of the company's expansion in Ireland.

And this isn't simply a future proposal.

Intel confirmed that execution of the capital programme began earlier in 2026.

The investment will upgrade existing fabrication facilities, install advanced manufacturing equipment and expand infrastructure across the campus as Intel increases its manufacturing capacity in Ireland.

Intel has specifically said the programme is expected to engage specialised tradespeople across construction and equipment installation.

For anyone working within advanced manufacturing, M&E or highly technical construction environments, it is another major vote of confidence in the Irish market.

Who's in demand?

Electrical Engineers | Mechanical Engineers | Project Managers | Quantity Surveyors | BIM Professionals | Health & Safety | Commissioning Engineers | Specialist Trades

 

2. Novo Nordisk Athlone Expansion – €432 Million

Location: Athlone, Co. Westmeath
Sector: Pharmaceutical / Life Sciences
Investment: €432 million

Ireland's pharmaceutical construction story isn't limited to Dublin and Cork.

In March 2026, Novo Nordisk announced a €432 million investment in its manufacturing facility in Monksland, Athlone.

The investment will upgrade and retrofit the existing facility while significantly increasing manufacturing capacity for oral products.

It is another substantial life-sciences investment for the Midlands and adds to an already strong pipeline of pharmaceutical and advanced manufacturing work around Ireland.

It also demonstrates why construction professionals with experience in pharma, cleanrooms, controlled environments, process facilities and complex M&E installations continue to be valuable.

Who's in demand?

Project Managers | Electrical Engineers | Mechanical Engineers | Quantity Surveyors | BIM Professionals | Commissioning Engineers | Health & Safety | Specialist Pharma Construction Professionals

 

3. Greater Dublin Drainage Project

Location: North Dublin / Greater Dublin Area
Sector: Water & Wastewater Infrastructure
Status: Preparatory works underway

Not every project driving demand in 2026 is a new building.

Some of Ireland's most important construction work is happening underground.

The Greater Dublin Drainage Project is one of the largest wastewater infrastructure projects in the State's history, and preparatory activities are now underway at Abbottstown, Clonshaugh and Silloge.

The eventual project will include a new regional wastewater treatment facility, a sludge hub, pumping infrastructure, an underground orbital sewer and associated drainage infrastructure.

Its scale is significant.

Once operational, the new infrastructure is expected to provide wastewater treatment capacity equivalent to a population of approximately 500,000 and help support the delivery of up to 185,000 new homes across north Dublin and surrounding areas of Meath and Kildare.

Preparatory works are underway during 2026, with preliminary construction expected to commence before the end of the year. The main construction phase is currently expected to begin in 2028.

Uisce Éireann has also launched procurement for Greater Dublin Drainage alongside the Water Supply Project – Eastern and Midlands Region. Together, the two programmes are expected to represent more than €7 billion of investment in Irish water and wastewater infrastructure.

For construction professionals, that's a major long-term pipeline rather than a short burst of activity.

Who's in demand?

Civil Engineers | Site Engineers | Project Managers | MEICA Engineers | Quantity Surveyors | Health & Safety | Planners | Water & Wastewater Specialists

 

4. Tarbert Next Generation Power Station – Up to €300 Million

Location: Tarbert, Co. Kerry
Sector: Energy
Investment: Up to €300 million

The energy sector is another area creating significant construction activity outside Ireland's largest cities.

SSE's new 300MW Tarbert Next Generation Power Station in County Kerry represents an investment of up to €300 million.

Full construction was underway by December 2025, with foundations and civil works progressing following earlier enabling works.

And the project reached another major milestone in August 2026 when the turbine at the heart of the new plant arrived in Kerry by sea.

The new facility is being developed to provide flexible electricity generation, helping support Ireland's electricity system when renewable generation is low and demand is high.

It's also a good example of something we're seeing more frequently across the Irish construction market:

Major opportunities aren't confined to Dublin.

Large energy, infrastructure, pharmaceutical and industrial projects are creating highly technical construction work throughout Ireland.

Who's in demand?

Project Managers | Civil Engineers | Mechanical Engineers | Electrical Engineers | Quantity Surveyors | Health & Safety | Commissioning Engineers | Specialist Energy Professionals

 

5. Platin Power Station – Up to €300 Million

Location: Platin, Co. Meath
Sector: Energy
Investment: Up to €300 million

Kerry isn't the only county seeing major investment in new energy infrastructure.

In June 2026, construction officially began on SSE's new Platin Power Station in County Meath.

The project represents an investment of up to €300 million and will deliver a 180MW Open Cycle Gas Turbine facility.

The plant is expected to become operational in 2028 and is designed to provide flexible electricity capacity that can support Ireland's increasing reliance on renewable generation.

Put Tarbert and Platin together and there's a bigger story here.

Ireland's transition towards a renewables-led electricity system doesn't remove the need for major construction.

It creates new construction requirements.

New generation, grid infrastructure, substations, storage, interconnectors and associated infrastructure all need experienced construction and engineering professionals to deliver them.

Who's in demand?

Electrical Engineers | Mechanical Engineers | Project Managers | Quantity Surveyors | Civil Engineers | Health & Safety | Commissioning Engineers | Energy Specialists

 

6. Equinix DB7x Data Centre – $92 Million

Location: Blanchardstown, Dublin
Sector: Data Centres / Digital Infrastructure
Investment: $92 million

Data centres remain an important part of Ireland's specialist construction market.

In March 2026, Equinix announced that construction had begun on its new DB7x data centre in Blanchardstown.

The facility will cover approximately 1,322 sq m, with Equinix planning to invest $78 million in the high-performance data centre itself and a further $14 million in the retail IBX buildout.

Capacity is scheduled to become available from early 2028.

While the headline investment is smaller than some of the projects on this list, data-centre construction is particularly significant from a recruitment perspective because of the density of specialist M&E expertise required to deliver these facilities.

For construction professionals with data-centre experience, Ireland and the wider European market continue to offer opportunities across highly technical projects.

Who's in demand?

Electrical Engineers | Mechanical Engineers | M&E Project Managers | BIM Professionals | Quantity Surveyors | Commissioning Engineers | Health & Safety | Data Centre Specialists

 

7. Parnell Square Cultural Quarter – €173.2 Million

Location: Dublin City Centre
Sector: Public / Cultural Construction
Estimated Phase 1 Cost: €173.2 million

It's not only infrastructure, pharma and technology generating major construction investment.

The redevelopment of Parnell Square Cultural Quarter is another significant project moving into delivery in Dublin.

Phase 1 carries an estimated pre-construction all-in cost of €173.2 million and includes the development of a new City Library alongside refurbishment and improvement works to the Hugh Lane Gallery.

The project combines new construction with conservation, refurbishment and complex city-centre delivery — bringing a very different set of construction challenges from a greenfield industrial development.

It also helps demonstrate just how broad the current Irish construction pipeline is.

Who's in demand?

Site Managers | Project Managers | Quantity Surveyors | Site Engineers | M&E Professionals | Health & Safety | Conservation & Refurbishment Specialists

 

What Do These Projects Tell Us About the Irish Construction Market?

The important part isn't any one project on this list.

It's what happens when all of them are moving at roughly the same time.

Ireland is simultaneously investing in:

• advanced manufacturing;

• pharmaceutical and life-sciences facilities;

• energy infrastructure;

• water and wastewater;

• data centres;

• housing-enabling infrastructure;

• and major public projects.

And each project needs more than the immediate site team.

A €300 million power station creates demand across contractors, specialist subcontractors, consultancies, suppliers and commissioning teams.

A €432 million pharmaceutical investment requires people with specialist technical and M&E experience.

A multi-billion-euro water programme creates a pipeline for civil and MEICA professionals that can stretch across several years.

That's why construction recruitment demand in Ireland in 2026 isn't being driven by one single "megaproject".

It's being driven by several sectors competing for overlapping skills.

 

Which Construction Professionals Are in Demand in Ireland in 2026?

While demand varies by sector and location, the scale of projects currently progressing across Ireland continues to create opportunities for experienced construction professionals, particularly across:

Site Engineers – particularly those with civil engineering, infrastructure and major-project experience.

Project Managers – with contractors requiring people capable of taking ownership of increasingly large and complex packages.

Quantity Surveyors – as major projects create demand for strong commercial management throughout the supply chain.

Electrical & Mechanical Engineers – particularly across data centres, pharmaceuticals, advanced manufacturing and energy projects.

Health & Safety Professionals – with complex construction environments requiring experienced H&S teams.

BIM Professionals – particularly on technically complex M&E and mission-critical developments.

Commissioning Engineers – increasingly important across energy, pharma, manufacturing and data-centre projects.

MEICA Professionals – with Ireland's water and wastewater infrastructure programme creating another significant area of opportunity.

 

What Does This Mean If You're Considering Your Next Move?

A busy market doesn't automatically mean you should change jobs.

But it does mean it's worth understanding where your experience sits within that market.

If you've spent the last few years delivering residential projects, could infrastructure offer your next step?

If you're an Electrical or Mechanical Engineer, could your experience transfer into pharma, data centres or energy?

If you're a Site Engineer, which sectors give you the strongest route towards Senior Engineer or Project Management?

And if you've been on the same type of project for several years, is your next move about earning more — or gaining the experience that makes you more valuable in three years' time?

Those are often more useful questions than simply asking: "Who's hiring?"

Because Ireland's construction pipeline is creating opportunities.

The important part is finding the one that makes sense for your career, rather than moving for the sake of moving.

 

Looking for Construction Jobs in Ireland?

At Breagh Recruitment, we specialise in construction and engineering recruitment across Ireland and Europe.

We work with construction professionals across Site Engineering, Project Management, Site Management, Quantity Surveying, Health & Safety, Mechanical & Electrical, Building Services and other specialist construction roles.

If you're considering a move or simply want to understand what projects and opportunities are available in your area you don't need to have made a decision before getting in touch.

View our latest construction jobs or speak to the Breagh Recruitment team for a confidential conversation about the market.