A shortage of engineers and delays in delivering critical infrastructure are putting housing delivery, the transition to low-carbon energy and Ireland’s economic competitiveness at risk, Engineers Ireland has warned.
In its Pre-Budget 2027 Submission, the professional body, which represents more than 30,000 members, said Ireland is not producing enough engineering graduates to meet demand across housing, energy, transport and other sectors.
According to Engineers Ireland, 10 per cent of Irish third-level graduates qualified in engineering, manufacturing or construction in 2024, compared with an OECD average of 13 per cent. The corresponding figures were 21 per cent in Germany and 19 per cent in Austria.
Almost half of engineering employers also reported taking more than six months to fill an engineering vacancy during the past year, while Engineers Ireland estimates that more than 22,000 additional engineers will be required in Ireland over the next decade.
The organisation is calling on the Government to expand places on accredited engineering programmes, increase engineering apprenticeships and extend the Free Fees Initiative to cover the fifth year of accredited integrated engineering master’s degrees.
It has also proposed a national campaign aimed at encouraging more young people, particularly girls, to pursue careers in engineering.
Housing was identified in the submission as the infrastructure issue of greatest concern among engineers. While more than 38,000 homes were completed in the 12 months to the end of the first quarter of 2026, Engineers Ireland said future housing delivery will depend on sufficient water, wastewater and electricity infrastructure.
It is seeking faster approvals, more proactive delivery of Uisce Éireann and ESB connections and multi-annual budgets for key infrastructure projects.
Engineers Ireland is also calling for annual transport investment increases of more than five per cent over the next decade, alongside accelerated delivery of MetroLink, DART+ and BusConnects. It has proposed that transport funding be allocated on a 2:1 basis in favour of sustainable transport modes.
On energy policy, the organisation said infrastructure investment should precede significant increases in electricity demand associated with artificial intelligence and data centres.
It has also called for Ireland’s legal restrictions on nuclear energy to be reviewed, with a view to allowing nuclear power to be evaluated alongside other low-carbon technologies.
Damien Owens, Director General of Engineers Ireland, said Ireland must address its infrastructure deficits if it is to maintain economic growth and continue to attract foreign direct investment.
“If Ireland is to continue to enjoy the growth that has been a feature of much of the last three decades of its economic life, it must swiftly and comprehensively deal with the infrastructural deficits that threaten, not only to undermine the quality of life of those living here, but to drastically reduce this country’s ability to attract foreign direct investment or support a thriving business community,” he said.
“Engineers and engineering remain essential ingredients in the strength of Ireland’s economy, and by appropriately supporting the engineering sector in Budget 2027, Government can give Ireland its best chance at continued success.”
