Politician(s) lobbied: Simon Harris (Tánaiste and Minister), Department of Finance; Sarah Bardon (Chief of Staff), Department of the Taoiseach; Niall O’ Connor (Special Advisor), Department of Foreign Affairs; Max Murphy (Special Adviser), Department of the Taoiseach; Jack Chambers (Minister), Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform; John Hogan (Secretary General), Department of Finance; Clare Costello (Assistant Secretary), Department of Finance; David Moloney (Secretary General), Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform; Eoin Dorgan (Assistant Secretary), Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform; James Browne (Minister), Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage; John McDonald (Special Adviser), Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage; John Cummins (Minister of State), Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage; Christopher O’Sullivan (Minister of State), Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage; Kieran O'Donnell (Minister of State), Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage; Paul Hogan (Acting Assistant Secretary), Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Intent: To secure Budget 2027 funding, tax measures, and policy commitments that strengthen housing delivery, support the construction sector, implement the National Policy on Architecture, expand the role of architects in public projects, and promote sustainable development through retrofit, reuse, and high-quality design.
Methods: Email
Details by Method
Email
Another email with the Pre-budget Submission on 16.7 sent to the following: minister@finance.gov.ie,niall.oconnor@tanaiste.gov.ie, sarah.bardon@tanaiste.gov.ie,max.murphy@tanaiste.gr ov.ie,minister@per.gov.ie, john.hogan@finance.gov.ie, clare.costello@finance.gov.ie,david.moloney@per.gov.ie, eoin.dorgan@per.gov.ie,minister@housing.gov.ie,john.mcdonald@housing.gov.ie,ministerofstate@housing.gov.ie,MOS@housing.gov.ie,MoSOffice@housing.gov.ie,graham.doyle@housing.gov.ie, paul.hogan@housing.gov.ie
Email
The RIAI 2027 Pre-budget Submission was published on 10.7.26 sent by email to minister@finance.gov.ie,niall.oconnor@tanaiste.gov.ie, sarah.bardon@tanaiste.gov.ie,max.murphy@tanaiste.gr ov.ie,minister@per.gov.ie, john.hogan@finance.gov.ie, clare.costello@finance.gov.ie,david.moloney@per.gov.ie, eoin.dorgan@per.gov.ie,minister@housing.gov.ie,john.mcdonald@housing.gov.ie,ministerofstate@housing.gov.ie,MOS@housing.gov.ie,MoSOffice@housing.gov.ie,graham.doyle@housing.gov.ie, paul.hogan@housing.gov.ie
Politician(s) lobbied: James Browne (Minister), Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Intent: The RIAI is seeking to persuade the Minister and Department to prioritise, complete, and publish the Best Practice Design Manual that accompanies the Sustainable Residential and Compact Settlements Guidelines for Planning Authorities.
Methods: LetterEmail
Details by Method
Letter
This letter was addressed to Minister James Browne TD, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2. It was sent on 2 May 2026. The RIAI welcomed a meeting to discuss the Design Manual for Quality Housing and other issues on housing design and delivery. No response received.
Email
We emailed James.Browne@housing.gov.ie on May 14 with a digital copy of the letter attached. The RIAI welcomed a meeting to discuss the Design Manual for Quality Housing and other issues on housing design and delivery. No response received.
Politician(s) lobbied: Micheál Carrigy (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas
Intent: To secure stronger policy recognition and practical involvement of architects in housing delivery, regeneration of vacancies and dereliction, and planning and procurement reform, thereby influencing how Ireland achieves its housing and infrastructure targets.
Methods: LetterEmailMeeting
Details by Method
Letter
Sent on 6 May 2026 to Leinster House, Dublin 2. The RIAI requested an opportunity to meet Deputy Carrigy. No response was received.
Email
Sent on 6 May 2026 to Micheal.Carrigy@oireachtas.ie.The RIAI requested an opportunity to meet with Deputy Carrigy. No response was received.
Meeting
This meeting took place in person, at the RIAI Offices in Merrion Square on June 4 at 12 pm. Fionnuala May, Kathryn Meghen and Micheál Carrigy were all in attendance.
Politician(s) lobbied: Seamus McGrath (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas
Intent: To secure stronger policy recognition and practical involvement of architects in housing delivery, regeneration of vacancies and dereliction, and planning and procurement reform, thereby influencing how Ireland achieves its housing and infrastructure targets.
Methods: LetterEmail
Details by Method
Letter
Sent on 6 May 2026 to Leinster House, Dublin 2. The RIAI requested an opportunity to meet Deputy McGrath. No response was received.
Email
Sent on 6 May 2026 to seamus.mcgrath@oireachtas.ie. The RIAI requested an opportunity to meet with Deputy McGrath. No response was received.
Politician(s) lobbied: Jack Chambers (Minister), Department of Finance
Intent: To support Government in addressing procurement barriers that hinder infrastructure delivery, thereby contributing to the achievement of national housing and infrastructure objectives.
Methods: Letter
Details by Method
Letter
The Letter highlights that the Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan identified procurement challenges as one of the leading barriers to infrastructure development in Ireland. The RIAI expresses alignment with Government that targeted procurement reform is essential to achieving national housing and infrastructure goals. The RIAI has developed a Public Procurement Reform White Paper, informed by member consultation, containing pragmatic policy recommendations. Sent 9/1/26
Politician(s) lobbied: James Browne (Minister), Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Intent: To secure Government action to introduce statutory protection of the title “Architectural Technologist,” ensure appropriate regulation of the profession within the built‑environment sector, and provide clarity for consumers, employers, and public bodies regarding the competence and responsibilities associated with the role.
Methods: Meeting
Details by Method
Meeting
This meeting took place at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage at Custom House D01 W6X0 on 2/4/26 at 9:30am. Kathryn Meghen, RIAI CEO, Frank Turvey RIAI Registrar, Shane Santry, Pat Kirwan, Liam Harding (Housing), John McDonald (Housing) and Derek Molyneux (Housing) were in attendance.
Politician(s) lobbied: Hildegarde Naughton (Minister of State), Department of Education
Intent: To obtain clarity on the status, prioritisation, and timelines for school building projects at all stages of development; to highlight the impact of delays on project delivery, business cashflow, and resourcing; to seek confirmation that projects at tender, pre‑construction, and early design stages will continue to progress; and to request improved communication and engagement to support stable delivery of the schools’ capital programme.
Methods: Letter
Details by Method
Letter
A letter addressed to Hildegarde Naughton, TD Minister for Education and Youth was sent via email to hildegarde.naughton@oireachtas.ieon 25 February 2026. The letter dislcosed the RIAI's response to the recent announcement of NDP Sectoral Investment Plan for the Education and Youth sectors in the period 2026 to 2030.The RIAI, ACEI, EI and SCSI members have raised concerns about the capital projects that are not currently listed.
Politician(s) lobbied: Hildegarde Naughton (Minister of State), Department of Education
Intent: To obtain clarity on the status, prioritisation, and timelines for school building projects at all stages of development; to highlight the impact of delays on project delivery, business cashflow, and resourcing; to seek confirmation that projects at tender, pre‑construction, and early design stages will continue to progress; and to request improved communication and engagement to support stable delivery of the schools’ capital programme.
Methods: Letter
Details by Method
Letter
A letter addressed to Hildegarde Naughton, TD Minister for Education and Youth was sent via email to hildegarde.naughton@oireachtas.ieon 25 February 2026. The letter dislcosed the RIAI's response to the recent announcement of NDP Sectoral Investment Plan for the Education and Youth sectors in the period 2026 to 2030.The RIAI, ACEI, EI and SCSI members have raised concerns about the capital projects that are not currently listed.
Politician(s) lobbied: Frank Feighan (Minister of State), Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform
Intent: To secure improvements to public‑sector procurement, including mandating the use of procurement guidance, fixing design fees at the end of Stage 2b, ensuring regular publication of project pipelines, reviewing contract forms including the potential use of the RIAI Contract in CWMF reform, strengthening engagement with the architectural profession, and increasing the use of architectural design competitions to support capacity and design quality
Methods: Meeting
Details by Method
Meeting
Minister of State for Public Procurement, Digitalisation and eGovernment, Frank Feighan, Kathryn Meghen, RIAI CEO and Fionnuala May, RIAI President were in attendance. The meeting took place on Thursday, 26 March at 10:30am at Merrion Street Dept. Finance South Block- D02R583.
Politician(s) lobbied: James Browne (Minister), Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Intent: Strengthen evidence‑based housing policy by providing a comprehensive, up‑to‑date reference of 100 real projects across Ireland.Support higher design and sustainability standards through the expert essays and documented best practices.Accelerate decision‑making by offering a consolidated resource that reduces duplication of research across agencies and practitioners.Promote innovation and consistency in housing delivery by showcasing replicable models and approaches.
Methods: Event / Reception
Details by Method
Event / Reception
A formal book launch for New Housing 3, took place at No.8 Merrion Square December 6th at 2pm.Representatives and Ministers from the Department Housing, Local Government and Heritage were in attendance. Minister James Browne TD, gave a speech via video message.
