DUBLIN, July 22 (Reuters) - Ireland will boost spending

on infrastructure projects over the next five years by 23%, to

112 billion euros ($131 billion), as it takes advantage of a

windfall of multinational tax, including a 14 billion euro Apple ( AAPL )

back-tax payment.

Ireland has for years failed to turn a multinational-driven

corporate tax boom into improving creaking energy, water and

housing supply. The IMF recently estimated that Ireland's

infrastructure lags competitor economies by around 32%.

"We believe that there's a need to immediately implement a

step change in the scale and quality of public investment in

critical sectors," Prime Minister Micheal Martin told a news

conference on Tuesday.

($1 = 0.8550 euros)