Cabinet due to weigh €1bn top-up

Ministers were due to meet on 28 October 2026 to consider adding an extra €1 billion to the Future Ireland Fund next year and winding down a contingency fund dating from 1923. The move would bring total investment in the Future Ireland Fund in 2027 to €5.8 billion, money intended to help meet costs from an ageing population and demographic pressures.

Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris was expected to seek Cabinet approval for the additional transfer, which would bring total transfers into the fund to €22.77 billion by the end of 2027. Subject to Cabinet approval, he would bring the necessary resolution before the Dáil before the end of the year to facilitate the additional transfer in 2027.

Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers was to brief Cabinet separately on plans to wind down the 1923 fund, which holds €1.2 million and has not been used for 22 years. The outstanding balance is set to be returned to the Exchequer, with officials recommending other budget mechanisms for contingency funding.

Sources:

RTÉ

Cabinet to consider adding €1 billion to Future Ireland Fund
An additional €1 billion could be added to the Future Ireland Fund under proposals due to be considered by the Government.

Irish Examiner

Housing finance and other Cabinet business

Harris was also to update Cabinet on reforms to Home Building Finance Ireland, which was set up in 2019 to support the construction of homes and has approved more than €4 billion since. Under the planned reforms, it will be able to provide targeted lending to small builders to finance residentially zoned land at the pre-planning stage, with the aim of supporting smaller builders and activating viable development land.

Chambers was to inform Cabinet of progress in accelerating the transfer of State-owned lands required for infrastructure projects. State entities have been directed to prioritise transfers for nationally important infrastructure and to streamline approvals, after such transfers were found often to take longer than private land acquisition. To date, five site transfer cases have been escalated by ESB Networks for resolution through the Joint Utilities and Transport Clearing House.

Minister for Education Hildegarde Naughton was to ask Government to note the establishment of the Forum on Inclusive Education for Students with Special Educational Needs, with its first meeting due in November. The forum will bring together stakeholders to develop a shared vision for inclusive education and identify practical actions, under chairman Professor Noel Purdy. Separately, 29 May 2026 was appointed as the commencement date for parts of section 34 of the 2024 savings-funds Act.

Sources:

Irish Examiner

Harris set to add further €1bn to Future Ireland Fund
The Government will invest an additional €1bn in its Future Ireland Fund next year under plans to be discussed by Cabinet today.

The Irish Times

Government to wind up century-old contingency fund
Officials have recommended that other budget mechanisms are more suitable for contingency funding and the outstanding balance will be returned to the exchequer.

Irish Statute Book

S.I. No. 186/2026 Commencement Order 2026
The 29 th day of May 2026 is appointed as the day on which subsections (1) and (2)(a) of section 34 of the Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Act 2024 (No. 16 of 2024) shall come into operation.

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Cabinet to weigh €1bn Future Ireland top-up, closing 1923 fund

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Housing finance and other Cabinet business

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