Major Projects Advisory Group

The Major Projects Advisory Group was established in December 2021 to further strengthen project management and to assist the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in its project assurance role.

Four highly qualified experts were appointed to the Group with extensive experience at senior levels in planning, managing and delivering major public investment projects.

The role of the Group is to:

• Consider the business case and assurance reports for major public investment projects
• Advise DPER on potential issues and risk related to project costs, schedules benefits based on review of the business case and assurance report: and
• Consider, on an ad hoc basis, future reforms to the Public Spending Code and governance arrangements for major projects.

The new level of oversight, alongside the External Assurance Process, bring Ireland in line with leading international performers and meets a recommendation of the IMF's Public Investment Management Assessment in Ireland.

Kevin Meaney, DPER

Gerard Cahillane, NDFA

Michael Nolan, External Member (Chair)

Alison Hardiman, External Member

Jerry Grant, External Member

Barry O'Driscoll, External Member

Michael Nolan - Chair

Michael Nolan has extensive experience in delivering and operating strategic transport infrastructure in Ireland. He was the first Chief Executive of Transport Infrastructure Ireland between 2015 and 2020 following the merger of the NRA and the RPA. In the NRA, he held the position of Head of Major Projects and Programme Management between 2007 and 2015. He also worked for many years with various local authorities in the delivery of major roads infrastructure. He is a graduate of the University of Galway and Trinity College Dublin, and has graduated with a Master in Major Programme Management from the Said Business School, University of Oxford.

Michael has studied leading techniques in risk management of major projects and programmes such as us of Reference Class Forecasting under Professor Bent Flyvbjerg, the world's leading expert in megaproject management. Michael is a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of Engineers Ireland. He is currently Chair of the Western Development Commission's Project Working Group to develop a Rural Town Mobility index, and external member of the NTA's BusConnects Programme Board and was recently appointed to the Board of ESB Networks DAC.

Jerry Grant

With an academic background in engineering and law, Jerry has over 25 years’ experience at Director and Executive Advisor in the Utilities and Construction sectors. Jerry served on the Irish Water Executive team from 2013 to late 2018 with roles including Managing Director, Head of Asset Management and Specialist Advisor.

Jerry continues to hold active leadership roles in State sectors engaged in infrastructure-based services and investment, and is the Chairman of Dublin Port Company . He is also an external member of the Governing Body of the Technological University Dublin and a Director of Sport Ireland.

Alison Hardiman

Alison Hardiman has extensive experience in the development of strategic infrastructure projects in Ireland as a planning and development law expert. She is a qualified lawyer with wide-ranging expertise in relation to strategic infrastructure development within the public and private sector. As a tendering consultant, she also has experience in Irish procurement law and processes.

Alison worked with the Railway Procurement Agency as the Agency’s in-house planning lawyer between 2006 and 2011 working on projects and proposals such as Metro North PPP, Luas Cross City and Citywest. With sponsorship from EirGrid, Alison is currently a PhD candidate researching the gaps in law and policy that inhibit the effective delivery of legally required renewable energy infrastructure projects in Ireland.

Barry O’Driscoll

Barry is a Chartered Civil Engineer with over 25 years’ experience in the national roads and public transport sectors. His extensive and relevant experience in senior positions in the planning, managing, and delivery of major public investment project roles include being Director for a global consultancy, WSP, Director for Highways England’s Smart Motorway Programme since 2016 and Project Director for a series of major projects, the most recent of which is the €1.2bn M4 Smart Motorway.

Barry is also a Member of the Independent Investment Programme Advisory Group (IIPAG), providing independent assurance and expert advice to the Mayor of London concerning Transport for London’s major projects.