Simon Harris to boost funding for small builders
Tánaiste Simon Harris has secured Cabinet backing to expand funding options for small homebuilders, enabling them to buy zoned land before planning permission is granted. This initiative aims to ease financing hurdles and stimulate housing development across Ireland’s communities.
Source:
Data.gov.ie
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⏱️ 1 min read
Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris has obtained Cabinet approval to draft legislation extending the lending powers of Home Building Finance Ireland (HBFI). The proposed Home Building Finance Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2026 will allow HBFI to provide finance for the purchase of residentially zoned land prior to securing planning permission.
This move seeks to overcome a critical barrier confronting smaller builders: accessing finance to acquire land ahead of planning approval. By addressing this funding gap, the government hopes to help small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) homebuilders expand their project pipelines and increase housing delivery in towns and villages throughout Ireland.
Following Cabinet’s decision, Harris emphasised the importance of supporting smaller builders who often struggle to secure pre-planning finance despite land being zoned for housing. Dara Deering, CEO of HBFI, welcomed the announcement, noting it directly tackles challenges identified in HBFI’s "Scaling Challenge" report. HBFI, operational since 2019, has already approved nearly €3.8 billion in funding, facilitating almost 20,000 homes, and this expansion aims to build on that success by unlocking further housing development opportunities.
This move seeks to overcome a critical barrier confronting smaller builders: accessing finance to acquire land ahead of planning approval. By addressing this funding gap, the government hopes to help small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) homebuilders expand their project pipelines and increase housing delivery in towns and villages throughout Ireland.
Following Cabinet’s decision, Harris emphasised the importance of supporting smaller builders who often struggle to secure pre-planning finance despite land being zoned for housing. Dara Deering, CEO of HBFI, welcomed the announcement, noting it directly tackles challenges identified in HBFI’s "Scaling Challenge" report. HBFI, operational since 2019, has already approved nearly €3.8 billion in funding, facilitating almost 20,000 homes, and this expansion aims to build on that success by unlocking further housing development opportunities.
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