The Tánaiste Simon Harris TD and Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage James Browne TD have announced the first call for projects under Ireland’s new Housing Infrastructure Investment Fund (HIIF). The €1 billion fund, to be allocated over the next five years, is aimed at boosting public infrastructure projects that unlock housing sites in towns and cities across the country. This multi-annual initiative represents the largest housing infrastructure fund in Ireland in recent years and is administered by the new Housing Activation Office within the Department of Housing.
The HIIF is designed to support the construction of essential infrastructure that enables large-scale residential development, forming a central component of the Government’s housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities. The fund aligns with the national target of delivering 300,000 new homes by 2030 and prioritizes projects that are ready to move quickly, ensuring that land zoned for housing is activated efficiently.
Call 1 of the HIIF is open to Local Authorities and the Land Development Agency (LDA), focusing on shovel-ready projects that can begin construction rapidly. The Tánaiste emphasized that the fund directly addresses idle zoned land lacking essential infrastructure, with the aim of accelerating home building and supporting the ambitious housing targets outlined in the Government’s plan. Minister Browne highlighted the need for strong, deliverable projects that can start unblocking housing delivery immediately.
While the first call targets public bodies, the Department of Housing plans to broaden the fund in early 2026 to include additional public and private sector partners. This will help leverage all available opportunities to unlock housing barriers across towns and cities. The Department is seeking input from industry groups to identify further projects and explore private sector involvement, with a second call anticipated to follow.
Applications for Call 1 must be submitted by midday, Friday, 27 February 2026. The HIIF is part of the National Development Plan 2025–2035 and is designed to complement other government and infrastructure investments, including funding to Uisce Éireann and ESB Networks, ensuring that lands identified for housing are fully serviced and ready for development. Projects under Call 1 are expected to deliver housing within the 2026–2028 timeframe.
The Housing Activation Office (HAO) serves as the central delivery mechanism for the HIIF. Comprising experts from Uisce Éireann, ESB Networks, the National Transport Authority, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, and local government, the HAO coordinates stakeholders, identifies infrastructure blockages, and facilitates the unlocking of land for housing. The successful implementation of the HIIF relies on this coordinated approach, ensuring that funding supports projects that directly enable the delivery of homes at scale across Ireland.
