Fundamental changes are needed in the planning process to allow major infrastructural projects such as roads to be completed much more quickly, according to the Taoiseach.
Opening the IMI conference here yesterday, Mr Ahern indicated that the new national development plan would involve a sharp increase in spending on infrastructure and accompanying measures to allow development to get under way more quickly.
The national development plan, outlining the Government's investment plans for the years ahead, is due to be published during the summer.
Mr Ahern said he wanted to underline his "determination to use the opportunity provided by the process to address the significant infrastructure deficit, which is at risk of choking off our growth and our prospects for sustained employment and higher living standards".
The Taoiseach said a radical approach was needed in dealing with the ways infrastructure development is managed "so as to reduce delays and increase efficiency". To compensate for reduced EU funding, more Exchequer spending on capital investment would be needed and the Taoiseach again indicated the Government's commitment to involve the private sector in partnership projects to co-fund major developments.
A pilot list of projects in this area will soon be published, he said, and businesses had indicated a strong interest in getting involved.
With this funding available, the Government will concentrate on ways to allow for more rapid development.
Speaking after his address, Mr Ahern highlighted road delays as one of the main causes of public complaint to politicians.
He got more letters on this than on unemployment or the North or any other issue, he said.
It takes at least five to six years and often much longer to complete a road project and people were "more and more frustrated" with the pace of development.
He said the Government had yet to consider specific proposals to speed up the planning process, but this had to be addressed as part of the next plan.
"The times being taken from drawing board to implementation are just too long."
This is not to take away from the rights of people to object to development or protect the environment but a better balance must be found between these interests and the need to ensure rapid progress is areas such as road building, he said.
Other states had different systems which still safeguarded the public interest.
Mr Ahern also pointed towards a new approach to developing the national development plan, saying the Government would consult widely with the social partners on the issues involved.
He said this could lead to broad agreement on what needed to be done and "in so doing, provide in itself a further boost to the social partnership process".
