Small business lobby group Isme has called on the Government to overhaul how infrastructure projects are delivered.
Isme chairman JJ Killian told the organisation's annual conference in Killenard, Co Laois, that Ireland's capital infrastructure is significantly behind that of other countries and is starting to obstruct the State's economic development.
Traffic congestion is now costing companies more than €2.5 billion a year, he said. Mr Killian called on Government to fast-track the rollout of broadband, waste facilities and improved road and rail links.
He also repeated Isme's call for a new National Transport Management Agency, with powers similar to those of the Environmental Protection Agency, that could also deal with land acquisition and planning issues.