The Irish government announced a significant €1 billion Housing Infrastructure Investment Fund (HIIF) today (January 20, 2026). This is described as the largest housing infrastructure fund in many years, aimed at unlocking delays in new housing developments by funding essential supporting infrastructure. Key details include:

• The fund will provide direct investment for projects such as water services, electricity/network connections, roads, access infrastructure, and other utilities needed to enable housing builds.
• It targets “shovel-ready” projects to boost house-building over the next few years (with delivery expected particularly between 2026 and 2028).
• Minister for Housing James Browne brought a memo to Cabinet this morning for approval, and following the meeting, he is expected to announce the first call for projects to local councils, the Land Development Agency (LDA), State agencies, and utilities like Uisce Éireann and the ESB.
• The fund will be overseen by the Department of Housing’s Housing Activation Office.

This announcement focuses specifically on housing-related infrastructure to address barriers to delivering new homes amid Ireland’s ongoing housing pressures. Other recent announcements include:

• Yesterday (January 19), the Department of Transport announced €360 million in capital funding for active travel and greenways in 2026 to support walking, cycling, and related infrastructure.
• Broader capital spending context from Budget 2026 (announced in October 2025) includes €19.1 billion total for 2026 (up €2 billion from 2025), with allocations across housing, transport, energy, water, and more under the National Development Plan.