RIAI 2026 Pre-Budget Submission
The RIAI’s 2026 Pre-Budget Submission to Government presents key proposals to address urgent challenges: a housing crisis, climate change, dereliction and vacancy in our towns, and a growing population projected to reach up to 7.25 million by 2050. These pressures demand a step change in how we plan, design, and deliver our built environment.
We have advised that the RIAI and our members are ready to help deliver the housing, schools, hospitals, and infrastructure that our communities need – better, faster, and more sustainably – and have asked for a meeting with the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, Jack Chambers TD.
The RIAI argues that good design is critical to how we create durable, adaptable buildings and resilient communities and obtain the best result from the resources available.
Budget 2026 is an opportunity to:
- Resource the National Policy on Architecture: “Places for People”, ensuring that Ireland’s €165 billion capital investment programme delivers value, sustainability, and quality.
- Strengthen the public sector by embedding architectural leadership within Local Authorities and State Agencies to deliver better, faster projects.
- Accelerate planning reform by funding integrated spatial planning pilots and 3D planning tools for evidence-based decision-making.
- Support balanced regional growth by resourcing regional planning capacity, digital tools, and innovative construction methods.
- Invest in catalyst projects for urban and regional regeneration that transform communities and unlock long-term economic, cultural, and social value.
- Protect our heritage by embedding architecture and conservation expertise in town centre renewal and rural regeneration.
- Expand education and skills to align architectural and construction training with Ireland’s long-term infrastructure needs.
- Introduce fiscal supports including reduced VAT on architectural services and funding for early-stage feasibility and retrofit planning, to promote private and public investment.
Strategic investment in design, planning and professional expertise will deliver lasting value: better housing, stronger communities, and climate-resilient places for generations to come.
You can read the full RIAI 2026 Pre-Budget Submission below.
