Today marks the International Day of People with Disabilities. Since 1992, IDPWD has been observed every December 3rd by a range of organisations around the world.
The Theme this year is "The Future is Accessible" and envisions a time when all environmental and social barriers for people with disabilities are identified and everyone works together to overcome them.

At The Housing Agency we aim to support and advocate for accessible housing for all. The Housing Agency is the co-ordinator for the National Housing Strategy for People with Disabilities.

The Housing Agency also uses its central expertise to look forward and have prepared a number of publications to support design of housing "Design for Housing to Meet the Needs of all" and "Design for Mental Health".

With the increasing number of managed estates, multi-unit developments, and owners’ management companies (OMCs) across the country, the Housing Agency is hosting evening Outreach Events for volunteer directors of OMCs.

 The events will cover:

• Roles and responsibilities of OMC directors
• Resources available for OMC directors
• Challenges faced by OMCs & managed estates

The events will be held at:

North East

Nuremore Hotel, Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan, Wednesday 27 November 2019: 6.30p.m. to 8p.m.

West

Clayton Hotel, Ballybrit, Galway, Wednesday 4 December 2019: 6.30p.m. to 8p.m.

Registration for the event will be available shortly by way of Eventbrite, or email to: MUD@housingagency.ie

The Housing Agency’s dedicated page, with information and resources for OMCs and multi-unit developments

The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) has partnered with Fingal County Council to deliver the RTB Betterlet: Accredited Landlord training scheme. The RTB and the Fingal Housing Department are inviting landlords in Fingal County and surrounding counties to take part in its free, one-day accreditation course on Saturday, 30th November at the Clayton Hotel Dublin Airport.  

Further Details

L-R Krystyna Rawicz (KRA Visionary Project Partners), Minister Eoghan Murphy, Sorcha Edwards (Housing Europe), Michael Carey (Housing Agency), Amanda Ziegler Dybbroe (CCPD) and Laura Burke (EPA)

Minister Eoghan Murphy opened the Housing Agency's Annual Conference which took place in the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on the 6th November 2019. The theme of the conference was Housing and Sustainability. Read the Programme and Press Release

Speakers Presentations:

Laura Burke, Director General, Environmental Protection Agency

Dr. Nessa Winston, Associate Professor, UCD

Krystyna Rawicz, KRA Visionary Project

Orla Coyle, Programme Manager, Sustainability Energy Authority of Ireland

Mark Scott, Professor of Planning, UCD

Sorcha Edwards, Secretary General, Housing Europe

Amanda Ziegler Dybbroe, Copenhagen City & Port Development Corpororation (CCPD)

 

The deadlines for Housing Agency Bursary applications have been extended for the following courses:

IPA New Thinking for Housing Workshops (October 2019 start) Closing Date Thursday 26 September 2019 (noon).

ICSH/CIH Level 4 Certificate in Housing (January 2020 start) Closing Date Friday 11 October (noon).

In partnership with the Institute of Public Administration and the Irish Council for Social Housing, the Housing Agency is delighted to offer a Housing Education Bursary Scheme for the 2019/2020 academic year.

In 2018 and 2019 significant efforts have been made in the areas of housing delivery and policy development. We have reflected on the importance of the role that housing professionals play and wish to promote current housing education and training programmes and support the development of housing practitioners.

In partnership with the Institute of Public Administration and the Irish Council for Social Housing, the Housing Agency is delighted to launch its Housing Education Bursary Scheme for the 2019/2020 academic year.

In 2018 and 2019 significant efforts have been made in the areas of housing delivery and policy development. We have reflected on the importance of the role that housing professionals play and wish to promote current housing education and training programmes and support the development of housing practitioners.

In accordance with S.I. 264 of 2012 (Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency Establishment Order 2012), the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Eoghan Murphy T.D, has appointed a new member to the Board of the Housing Agency.

The Housing Agency is governed by a Board appointed by the Minister. It is responsible for ensuring that the Agency carry out all functions effectively and comply with statutory requirements.

As requested by the Department, a campaign was launched in March 2019 by the Public Appointments Service for the purpose of making an appointment of an independent member to the Board of the Housing Agency. A shortlist of applicants was then received in the Department and the Minister has now appointed Dr. David Duffy to the Board of the Housing Agency.

A brief résumé of the new member is set out below. Dr. Duffy is being appointed for the period 01 July 2019 to 30 June 2024.  This will bring the Board membership to 9 persons.

David Duffy

David Duffy is Director at Property Industry Ireland. He has a Ph.D., Masters of Economic Science and B.A. (Hons) Degree in Economics and Sociology. Dr. Duffy has over 25 years of professional experience working in research and consultancy. He was previously employed at the Economic and Social Research Institute where his main area of research was in the housing market. Dr. Duffy also previously held positions with the Chamber of Commerce of Ireland, Fitzpatrick Associates and Hillier Parker Property Consultants.

Eoghan Murphy TD, Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government launched a report authored by Paul Mooney entitled Owners' Management Companies – Sustainable Apartment Living for Ireland on Thursday 20th June 2019 in Chartered Accountants House, Pearse Street, Dublin 2.

This new independent report, jointly commissioned by the Housing Agency and Clúid Housing, proposes measures for the sustainability of owners’ management companies (OMCs). It sets out research findings and makes recommendations to support apartment/multi-unit development living.

The report:

• Profiles, examines and assesses the performance of OMCs, in terms of operation, management, and governance
• Explores international best practice, and what works in countries similar to Ireland
• Delivers research findings, involving the makers, implementers, and subjects of current policy for apartment/multi-unit estate management
• Recommends reforms to strengthen and improve OMCs to deliver sustainable apartment living

Increased residential densities in our towns and cities is a key measure of Government housing policy. More and more people in Ireland live in homes in apartment developments and managed estates. High standards in shared spaces, amenities and services are key to sustainable communities. 

OMCs are responsible for the stewardship of these estates’ common areas and services. Well-functioning OMCs will help to underpin sustainable apartment living into the future.

The report identifies that under current arrangements OMCs face a number of challenges. These are seen to include:

• Service charge collection difficulties, and mounting debts
• Insufficient provision for long-term maintenance and upkeep
• Reliance on a cohort of civic-minded but untrained volunteer/amateur directors 
• To help to deliver well-run OMCs, the main recommendations of the report centre around:
• OMC director mandatory training
• Regulation, oversight and dispute resolution structures
• Improving sinking funds provision
• Enhancing communication and reporting measures

 

Download the full Report. 

Access more information for owners of homes in managed estates. 

Eoghan Murphy TD, Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government launched a report authored by Paul Mooney entitled Owners' Management Companies – Sustainable Apartment Living for Ireland on Thursday 20th June 2019 in Chartered Accountants House, Pearse Street, Dublin 2.

This new independent report, jointly commissioned by the Housing Agency and Clúid Housing, proposes measures for the sustainability of owners’ management companies (OMCs). It sets out research findings and makes recommendations to support apartment/multi-unit development living.

The report:

• Profiles, examines and assesses the performance of OMCs, in terms of operation, management, and governance
• Explores international best practice, and what works in countries similar to Ireland
• Delivers research findings, involving the makers, implementers, and subjects of current policy for apartment/multi-unit estate management
• Recommends reforms to strengthen and improve OMCs to deliver sustainable apartment living

Increased residential densities in our towns and cities is a key measure of Government housing policy. More and more people in Ireland live in homes in apartment developments and managed estates. High standards in shared spaces, amenities and services are key to sustainable communities. 

OMCs are responsible for the stewardship of these estates’ common areas and services. Well-functioning OMCs will help to underpin sustainable apartment living into the future.

The report identifies that under current arrangements OMCs face a number of challenges. These are seen to include:

• Service charge collection difficulties, and mounting debts
• Insufficient provision for long-term maintenance and upkeep
• Reliance on a cohort of civic-minded but untrained volunteer/amateur directors 
• To help to deliver well-run OMCs, the main recommendations of the report centre around:
• OMC director mandatory training
• Regulation, oversight and dispute resolution structures
• Improving sinking funds provision
• Enhancing communication and reporting measures

 

Download the full Report. 

Access more information for owners of homes in managed estates. 

Save the Date!

This year’s annual Housing Practitioners’ Conference will take  place on the 4 & 5 July at the Lyrath Estate Hotel, Kilkenny

Bookings can be made through the Institute of Public Administration (IPA)

Conference programme is available here