Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 January 2026
168. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when his Department plans to draw down on the EU funding for housing made available through the EU affordable housing plan; his plans for the funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5103/26]
View answerThe European Commission published its European Affordable Housing Plan on 16 December 2025. A specific action of the Plan is to mobilise additional public and private investment to improve access to financing opportunities, best practices and innovative financing approaches.
Ireland currently accesses European funding for housing through European Investment Bank (EIB) loans for social and affordable housing via the Housing Finance Agency (HFA), and specific national schemes co-funded by the EU and other EU Structural and Investment funds, such as the Town Centre First Heritage Revival Scheme via the European Regional Development Fund for urban regeneration.
Since 2007, the HFA’s €775 million partnership with the EIB has helped provide over 6,200 social and affordable homes nationwide. In October 2025, a new €400 million partnership between the EIB and the HFA was announced to support the delivery of social and affordable homes in Ireland.
Building on the existing European funding, the European Affordable Housing Plan recognises that the full potential of Europe’s housing investment ecosystem needs to be unlocked. To address this, the European Affordable Housing Plan will mobilise public and private investment through a new Pan-European Investment Platform for affordable and sustainable housing which will be launched in Q3 2026.
As well as enhanced support at EU level, national and regional promotional banks will aim to invest €375 billion in resources by 2029 into social, affordable, and sustainable housing. The revision of State aid rules will also make it easier for Member States to financially support affordable housing.
The Plan will also mobilise new investments in housing under the Multiannual Financial Framework in 2026 and 2027. Additional support will also come from the Social Climate Fund; under National and Regional Partnership Plans and the EU Facility, as well as the European Competitiveness Fund and its new ECF InvestEU instrument, building on the successful model of the InvestEU programme. Furthermore, the Commission will promote the regeneration of neighbourhoods and improve access to funding for community-led solutions for affordable housing via the New European Bauhaus.
My Department will ensure Ireland continues to access existing European funding and examine opportunities to avail of funding under the European Affordable Housing Plan as its implementation progresses. My Department will also continue to engage with the Commission and the Housing Taskforce on ensuring that the European Affordable Housing Plan increases public and private investment for affordable and sustainable housing through the new Pan-European Investment Platform during Ireland’s EU Presidency.
