CIOB warns Ireland's 2027 budget retreats on carbon taxes while boosting infrastructure and housing spending

Ireland's 2027 budget commits €8.65bn to infrastructure, housing, and clean energy, but the Chartered Institute of Building says a cut to carbon taxes undermines the country's climate goals. The budget includes €4.2bn for National Development Plan projects like DART+, BusConnects, and the Galway Ring Road, plus €3bn for 11,250 social homes and €650m for solar, battery storage, and boiler upgrades through SEAI. CIOB is critical of the Help to Buy expansion from €30,000 to €35,000, arguing demand-side support does not fix housing supply constraints. It also questions the decision to reduce carbon tax on heating oil and natural gas to 2023 levels for the rest of the government's term. The institute wants VAT changes to favour retrofit and reuse over demolition. The budget is large, but delivery capacity in planning and procurement remains the main risk. Whether the spending translates into built projects depends on faster approvals and better coordination, not just the headline numbers.