The Department of Justice confirmed on 4 December that Cabinet has signed off on a record €2.18 billion capital investment plan for 2026-2030, with €200 million ring-fenced for purpose-built accommodation for international-protection applicants and €81 million for a “modern, digital immigration system.” Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan said the funding would enable Ireland to “deliver a firm, fair and effective immigration system and be ready for the EU Migration Pact.”
Why it matters: Ireland currently relies on emergency hotel contracts and leased properties for asylum housing, a model that is costly and politically contentious. Owning accommodation facilities should lower long-term expenses and give the State greater control over standards—important for companies transferring staff who require initial short-term housing. The €81 million technology spend will expand the online immigration portal, automate decision-making, and integrate border-security data—changes expected to cut processing times for work permits, residence cards and citizenship applications.
![€2.18 billion Justice Sector plan earmarks €281 m for immigration modernisation and State-owned accommodation]()
For mobility managers: Faster, more predictable timelines reduce the risk of project delays and allow HR to give clearer start dates to clients and hiring managers. The digital investment should also mean fewer in-person appointments, making regional assignments outside Dublin more feasible. However, companies that currently house assignees in hotels contracted to the State may lose that option as government demand for such rooms falls.
Broader context: The capital plan is part of Ireland’s National Development Plan review and represents an €800 million increase on the previous five-year cycle. In addition to immigration, the budget funds new Garda stations, body-worn cameras and a National Security HQ—measures aimed at enhancing security at ports and airports. Implementation will begin in 2026; procurement for the first tranche of immigration projects is expected to open in mid-2026.
Action points: Employers should track the tender process; there may be opportunities for corporate housing providers and IT vendors specialising in identity management. Mobility teams should also factor potential policy shifts—such as mandatory use of the new digital platform—into 2026 relocation budgets.
Why it matters: Ireland currently relies on emergency hotel contracts and leased properties for asylum housing, a model that is costly and politically contentious. Owning accommodation facilities should lower long-term expenses and give the State greater control over standards—important for companies transferring staff who require initial short-term housing. The €81 million technology spend will expand the online immigration portal, automate decision-making, and integrate border-security data—changes expected to cut processing times for work permits, residence cards and citizenship applications.
For mobility managers: Faster, more predictable timelines reduce the risk of project delays and allow HR to give clearer start dates to clients and hiring managers. The digital investment should also mean fewer in-person appointments, making regional assignments outside Dublin more feasible. However, companies that currently house assignees in hotels contracted to the State may lose that option as government demand for such rooms falls.
Broader context: The capital plan is part of Ireland’s National Development Plan review and represents an €800 million increase on the previous five-year cycle. In addition to immigration, the budget funds new Garda stations, body-worn cameras and a National Security HQ—measures aimed at enhancing security at ports and airports. Implementation will begin in 2026; procurement for the first tranche of immigration projects is expected to open in mid-2026.
Action points: Employers should track the tender process; there may be opportunities for corporate housing providers and IT vendors specialising in identity management. Mobility teams should also factor potential policy shifts—such as mandatory use of the new digital platform—into 2026 relocation budgets.
