Galway City Council has secured up to €30 million in funding under the Government’s Housing Infrastructure Investment Fund (HIIF). The investment will back key infrastructure initiatives designed to open up development land for up to 12,877 new homes across the city.

The HIIF is part of the Government’s broader Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025–2030 plan, a €1 billion national programme focused on accelerating residential delivery by funding crucial enabling infrastructure. It stands as the largest housing infrastructure fund introduced in Ireland in recent years, serving as a primary mechanism to meet the national target of 300,000 homes by 2030.

Galway City Council was successful in two standalone bids and supported a third application led by the Land Development Agency (LDA). The funding will be split across three strategic growth sectors:

Castlegar – €15 Million Investment

The Castlegar framework will deliver vital infrastructure across two primary locations:

Tuam Road (N83): Construction of a new four-way signalised junction and a spine road navigating through development lands, alongside undergrounding existing ESB lines and installing new electrical facilities.

Bóthar an Choiste: Upgrading roughly 525 metres of the current roadway to enhance access to lands possessing planning permission for a 168-home Large-Scale Residential Development (LRD) and a childcare facility.

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Long-Term Planning: The funding also supports the creation of a Priority Urban Area Plan to guide sustainable expansion across the wider Castlegar region.

Ardaun – €6.5 Million Investment

This allocation will finance a trenchless crossing beneath the N67, establishing a critical utilities corridor. This will link existing infrastructure at Sraith Fhada, Doughiska, to development plots in Ardaun South. The enabling infrastructure will unlock the first construction phase in Ardaun, a major strategic growth area with the eventual capacity to provide more than 2,500 homes.

Sandy Road (LDA Partnership) – Under €10 Million

Executed in tandem with the Land Development Agency, this project involves realigning Sandy Road and constructing a new junction with Sean Mulvoy Road to establish direct access to the Sandy Quarter development lands. The investment will directly enable approximately 550 homes while indirectly unlocking capacity for an additional 3,699 units, complementing planned wider investments in the Galway City Ring Road and local sustainable transport networks.

Mayor of the City of Galway, Cllr Helen Ogbu, stated: "I welcome the announcement of this significant investment for Galway city which will support our long-term housing need for our growing population. These projects will remove key infrastructure barriers to unlock strategic sites which will enable the development of thousands of much‑needed homes in well‑serviced locations of the city."

Chief Executive of Galway City Council, Leonard Cleary, added: "I am delighted that Galway City Council has been successful in securing this significant investment under the Housing Infrastructure Investment Fund. These projects represent critical enabling infrastructure that will unlock the delivery of thousands of homes across the city. Importantly, this funding allows us to take a planned and strategic approach to growth, ensuring that essential services such as roads, water, wastewater and energy infrastructure are delivered in tandem with housing."

Director of Housing Services and Integration, Lieze Fanning, emphasised the direct impact on local delivery: "This funding is a major step forward in addressing housing need in Galway City. By investing in the infrastructure required to open up these lands, we are removing some of the most significant barriers to residential development. The scale of what can now be delivered is very significant, with the potential to unlock over 12,500 homes. Just as importantly, these developments will be supported by the necessary infrastructure and services, helping to create sustainable and liveable communities for current and future residents."