PRESS RELEASE

Thursday, 22nd June 2023

New awareness campaign to be rolled out to increase visibility of National Housing Strategy for Disabled People

The Implementation Plan for the National Housing Strategy for Disabled People 2022 - 2027 was launched today (22.06.2023) by Minister of State for Local Government and Planning, Kieran O’Donnell, T.D., and the Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, Anne Rabbitte, T.D. The Plan will deliver on the primary objective of the National Housing Strategy for Disabled People 2022 – 2027, which is ‘to facilitate disabled people to live independently with the appropriate choices and control over where, how and with whom they live, promoting their inclusion in the community’.

An awareness campaign on the Strategy and the Implementation Plan was also launched today.  The purpose of the campaign is to promote the Strategy and its Implementation Plan locally and nationally with stakeholders, the general public, and throughout the disability sector through various platforms.

The campaign will ensure the housing needs of disabled people are afforded a high level of visibility at local and national level in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities UNCRPD principles.  The campaign will feature adverts in regional newspapers and news sites, the sharing of videos of disabled people on their views of the Strategy across online platforms, poster campaigns on public transport and in train stations.  It is expected that the local Housing and Disability Steering groups in each county in Ireland will build on the national campaign and undertake awareness raising activities in their areas.  The awareness campaign will be ongoing and run for the lifetime of the Strategy.

Welcoming the launch of the Implementation Plan and the awareness campaign, Bob Jordan, Chief Executive Officer of The Housing Agency, said “We welcome the launch of the Implementation Plan for the National Housing Strategy for Disabled People. This implementation plan aims to provide real sustainable housing solutions for disabled people, and for delivery to be done in a coordinated and collaborative way. Furthermore, the awareness campaign that is being launched today is an opportunity to raise awareness with disabled people, families, the general public and others on the National Housing Strategy for Disabled People and the emphasis it places on disabled people being supported to live independently and be included in the community, in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.”

The Strategy and the Implementation Plan were developed under the guiding principles of Housing for All – the Government’s housing plan to 2030.  The National Housing Strategy for Disabled People 2022-2027 was launched in January 2022 and is available here.

The Implementation Plan for the National Housing Strategy for Disabled People 2022-2027 is available to view here.

ENDS

Contact:

Sarah Kennedy, Communications Manager at communications@housingagency.ie or mobile 086 371 5628

 

The Housing Agency and Housing Europe co-hosted an event entitled The Ground Beneath Our Feet - public land use and delivery of affordable housing on the 7th June at the Social Housing Festival in Barcelona. 

Land is fundamental to the delivery of housing. It is literally the foundation upon which housing is built, and those who control it, thus, also effectively control the delivery of new housing. In the context of insufficient availability of affordable housing in many regions, this event will look at the different ways in which government is using strong land management policies to boost the delivery of new social & affordable homes. This workshop included presentations from a variety of experts, listed below:

12:40-12:45 | Welcoming remarks and event agenda
• Dara Turnbull, Housing Europe
12:45-13:05 | Active public land management toolkit – The #Housing2030 approach
• Julie Lawson, RMIT University
13:05-13:15 | Starting from scratch – the new Irish Land Development Agency
• Dearbhla Lawson, Irish Land Development Agency
13:15-13:25 | Managing a scarce resource – public land management in Barcelona
• Ivan Ruiz Gallardo, Barcelona Municipal Housing Department
13:25-13:35 | Public land management that drives innovation – the Vienna model
• Bernd Riessland from the Austrian Federation of Limited-Profit Housing Associations (GBV), Vienna
13:35-13:45 | Public land management in a housing system in transition
• Mojca Štritof-Brus, Housing Fund of the Republic of Slovenia
13:45-14:00 | Q&A with the speakers
• Moderated by Dara Turnbull, Housing Europe

A full recording of the event can be viewed on our YouTube channel: The Ground Beneath Our Feet full recording.

Slides from the event can be downloaded here: The Ground Beneath Our Feet slides.

You may also be interested in The Housing Agency's series of webinars on land, more information can be found here: Talking about Land series.

Finally, the Housing 2030 report is an excellent resource which can be accessed here: Housing 2030 report.

 

 

The speaker presentations from the Housing Practitioners' Conference, held in The Strand Hotel, Co. Limerick on the 11th and 12th May have been published. 

The conference, organised by The Housing Agency, in collaboration with the Institute of Public Administration addressed the theme "Housing for All: Lessons from Practice". There were a number of plenary sessions with presentations on sustainability, supply, vacancy, affordability and more. The conference featured a range of workshops on topics including modern methods of construction, trauma-informed care, Traveller specific accommodation and approved housing body regulation. 

Download the speaker presentations linked in the attached programme here: Housing Practitioners' Conference Presentations 

Download the full agenda from the day here: Housing Practitioners' Conference Programme

 

PRESS RELEASE

11th May, 2023

The Housing Agency secures support to advance retrofitting in multi-apartment buildings

- Research to contribute towards reducing energy poverty and meeting Ireland’s net-zero emission targets -

 

The Housing Agency will receive support under the European Commission Technical Support Instrument (TSI) for a multi-country project involving Ireland, Austria and Lithuania on building decarbonisation. The project will include research of multi-unit developments’ (MUDs) finances and governance, to advance methods of whole-of-building retrofitting in apartment buildings. Retrofitting apartment buildings will contribute towards meeting Ireland’s net-zero emission targets, and reduce the risk of energy poverty.

 

The announcement was made at the Housing Agency’s Housing Practitioners’ conference taking place in Limerick today and tomorrow. The conference, organised in collaboration with the Institute of Public Administration will address the theme "Housing for All: Lessons from Practice" and will cover topics including sustainability, supply, vacancy, affordability and more.

 

Speaking today about the successful research support application, Bob Jordan, CEO, The Housing Agency said: “Homes throughout Ireland, including a significant number of people living in apartments, are experiencing energy poverty and struggling to keep their homes warm. Retrofitting homes is an important action in tackling energy poverty and creating warmer and healthier homes. This is particularly pertinent for renters and low-income dwellers.

 

“The number of apartments in Ireland has increased by 85 per cent from 2002 to 2016, and we know that a significant proportion of apartments require retrofitting. Retrofitting MUDs could present a unique opportunity to retrofit at scale - a well-designed retrofit programme will deliver the successful upgrade of dozens or hundreds of homes in one project. 

“However, there are a number of challenges in retrofitting MUDs, such as financing the project, and complicated ownership structures which can inhibit motivation and owner engagement to retrofit.

 

“This project to be undertaken thanks to the European Commission support will identify pathways to deliver retrofitting at scale and increase the energy performance of Irish apartment MUDs, as well as contributing to reaching Ireland’s net-zero emissions targets.”

 

Challenges in carrying out necessary retrofitting in apartment MUDs include:

• Access to funding and credit finance;
• Complex and fragmented ownership structures, including private and public / social tenures; and
• Suboptimal governance of the buildings.

 

The project is expected to commence in Q3 of 2023, with a view to being completed by the end of 2024.

 

The support was awarded under the 2023 cycle of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Structural Reform Support Technical Support Instrument (TSI).

 

Further information on The Housing Agency is available here:  http://www.housingagency.ie. 

 

ENDS

 

Contact: Sorcha MacMahon / Emily Brennan, Alice Public Relations, Tel: 087-7585337 / 086-1658629, Email: media@alicepr.com

 

Notes to Editors:

 

About The Housing Agency

The Housing Agency supports the development of sustainable communities across Ireland. It works to meet the nation’s housing needs by:

• Rolling out new housing projects and co-ordinating programmes that can transform how we live. 
• Using data and research to provide evidence-based solutions.
• Advising the Government on housing policies.
• Collaborating with all those involved in the housing sector in Ireland to ensure we are working as effectively as possible. 

 

A State-funded body governed by an independent Board, The Housing Agency works mainly with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, local authorities and non-profit housing providers.

 

Follow The Housing Agency on Twitter: @HousingAgencyIE.

 

Press release originally issued by Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage on 28th April 2023

The Minister for Housing Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, has re-appointed Mr. Michael Carey as Chair to the Board of the Housing Agency until April 2028.

In making the announcement, the Minister expressed his appreciation of the dedication and commitment that Mr. Carey has given to the Housing Agency since he joined as Chairperson in 2018.

Commenting, Minister O’Brien said:

“Given the level of experience, leadership and skills Mr. Carey undoubtedly possesses and his commitment to the Housing Agency over the last five years, as we work through the ambitious Housing for All Plan I look forward to continuing to work with the Housing Agency to achieve the goals set out in the Plan.”

Written by Karl Burke, of The Housing Agency's research team. 

The Housing Agency’s Data Insight Series seeks to inform housing practitioners and the public about topical housing issues by presenting data is a visual and accessible format. Launched in September, to date, four issues have been published with the most recent release in April 2023.

The third iteration of the data insights series explored two challenges that are facing Irish families and communities with the cost of living – housing costs and energy prices.

In relation to housing, there are two primary concerns – accelerated housing costs for both homeowners’ and renters, and a growth in the number of people presenting as homeless. The current findings from the Housing Agency’s data insights series show that prior to early 2015, costs for homeowners and renters were reasonably stable. However, since then, both indicators have been steadily increasing overtime. For example, in January 2020, the national median sale price of housing was €255,000 and the national standardised average rent for new tenancies was €1,287 in Q1 2020. Prices continued to rise in early 2021 where the median sale price had risen to €270,000 and the average rent on new tenancies rose to €1,341. The latest data shows that in November 2022, the median sale price of housing stands at €310,000 while the standardised average rent on new tenancies is €1,481.

On energy prices, many households across Ireland have experienced increased costs in heating their homes since the war in Ukraine began. The European Union have imposed restrictions on fossil fuel imports from Russia. This in turn has led the EU to re-evaluate its heavy reliance on Russian energy, particularly within mainland Europe. Findings from this data insights series shows that in the first half of 2020, households were paying an average gas price of 6.73 cents per kWh and paying an average 23.05 cents per kWh on electricity. By the end of 2021, average gas and electricity prices paid by households had increased to 7.93 cents per kWh for gas and 28.23 cents per kWh for electricity. As of early 2022, the average gas price paid by households was 8.51 cents per kWh. Interestingly, average prices paid for electricity had declined to 26.45 cents per kWh.

While housing and energy costs are likely to remain an issue for the foreseeable future, there are positive signs that energy prices will fall, and the Government has been taking action to tackle challenges related to the cost-of-living increase. The announcement of Budget 2023 contained a list of measures to help financially support families across the country. This included supports such as the Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Scheme II which allowed for all domestic electricity customers in the country to be allocated €600 in credits (€200 over 3 stages) to aid with reducing electricity bills for households. Supports also included a €400 lump sum in Fuel Allowance and a double lump sum in Child Benefit to all recipients of those payments. Additionally, a €470 million package was recently announced by the Government to assist social protection recipients from April to July 2023. The measures include temporary reductions in VAT on gas and electricity, from 13.5% to 9%, which will be extended to 31 October 2023.

All issues of the Data Insight Series can be accessed through this link. Previous issues researched Student Accommodation (Issue 1) and Irish Government Housing Expenditure (Issue 2). Issue 4 of the insights series released in April covers Women and Housing.

Further data visualisation resources are available on the Housing Agency’s Data Hub at this link.

This article was originally posted on the Chartered Institute of Housing website. 

In October 2022, the Irish Architectural Foundation and The Housing Agency launched the Housing Unlocked exhibition. Running until mid-February 2023, this exhibition showcased eight innovative ideas to unlock housing delivery in Ireland. With over 25,000 visitors, this was a very popular event with practitioners and the general public.

On the 31st March, The Housing Agency held an event aimed to investigate the possibility of translating these ideas into practical actions that could provide new homes. The ‘Housing Unlocked - Making it Happen’ event involved presentations of each of the eight ideas to a targeted audience of housing practitioners. The presentations were followed by panel discussions and audience contributions to discuss the potential of realising these proposals.

The panels were made up of the following experts in housing, local government and planning.

Panel 1
• Robert Burns – Director of Services, Housing, Fingal County Council
• Sarah Neary – Principal Advisor, Built Environment, DHLGH
• Joan McMahon – Senior Architectural Advisor, DHLGH
• Karen Kenny – Senior Advisor, Planning, DHLGH

Panel 2
• Claire Feeney, Director of Services and Inclusion, The Housing Agency
• Tom Gilligan, Director of Services, Housing, Mayo County Council
• Cllr. Dermot Lacey, Dublin City Council
• Stewart Logan, Senior Planning Advisor, DHLGH

To read a report of the event please visit this link: Housing Unlocked – Making it Happen Event Report.

To read the official Housing Unlocked – Making it Happen document, which outlines the eight proposals and summarises the actions required to turn these ideas into reality, please visit this link: Housing Unlocked – Making it Happen.

 

PRESS RELEASE

Monday, 17th April 2023

Housing First successful in ending long term homelessness

- High sustainment rate of 86% a key indicator of the success of the programme, according to The Housing Agency -

 

The tenancy sustainment rate for Housing First tenants is 86 per cent, demonstrating the positive impact of the programme in addressing long-term homelessness. That's according to The Housing Agency where the Housing First National Office is based.  Today (17th April 2023) the Housing First National Office are holding a conference exploring the impact of the programme while also raising key themes aimed at supporting front line staff in Local Authority, HSE and homeless organisations since the introduction of Housing First Nationally in 2018.

 

Housing First aims to eliminate homelessness for people with a history of rough sleeping and long-term use of emergency homeless accommodation. Tenants of Housing First will have complex needs around mental health, substance use, physical health, and other social and behavioural challenges. It provides direct access to permanent housing, together with intensive tenancy and health supports delivered in a wrap around team mainly in the person’s home.

 

Since the introduction of Housing First in Ireland 865 tenants have been supported, with 240 tenancies created in 2022 alone.

 

Commenting ahead of the conference, Rob Lowth, National Director of the Housing First National Office, said: "Housing First is a person-centred approach to helping people who are experiencing long-term homelessness and who may require additional supports. By providing people with a stable and secure home first, we can then work with them to help them to overcome other issues they may face. The fact that almost ninety per cent of the tenants we have supported so far have been able to sustain their tenancy proves that the Housing First programme is effective and gives the individuals an opportunity to be housed in some cases for the very first time.

 

"The Housing First National Office looks forward to continuing supporting both the Statutory and NGO sectors to support Housing First tenant and reduce long-term homelessness."

 

The theme of the Housing First conference taking place in Athlone today and tomorrow is "Where would Ireland be without Housing First". Speakers include:

• Dr. Sam Tsemberis, who founded the Housing First programme in New York in 1992:
• Dr, Ronni Greenwood, University of Limerick, who conducted the national evaluation of Housing First.
• Mr. Joe Doyle, HSE National Social Inclusion Office, whose work focuses on ensuring the required health supports are in place to support Housing First tenants.

 

Further information about Housing First is available here: https://www.housingagency.ie/housing-information/housing-first

 

ENDS

 

Contact: Sorcha MacMahon / Emily Brennan, Alice Public Relations, Tel: 087-7585337 / 086-1658629, Email: media@alicepr.com

 

Notes to Editors:

Rob Lowth, Dr Sam Tsemberis and Dr Ronni Greenwood are available for media interview.

 

About The Housing Agency

The Housing Agency supports the development of sustainable communities across Ireland. It works to meet the nation’s housing needs by:

• Rolling out new housing projects and co-ordinating programmes that can transform how we live. 
• Using data and research to provide evidence-based solutions.
• Advising the Government on housing policies.
• Collaborating with all those involved in the housing sector in Ireland to ensure we are working as effectively as possible. 

 

A State-funded body governed by an independent Board, The Housing Agency works mainly with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, local authorities and non-profit housing providers.

 

Follow The Housing Agency on Twitter: @HousingAgencyIE.

 

The Housing Agency presents a lunchtime webinar intended to provide an overview of key governance and legal topics for multi-unit developments, and owners’ management companies. 

This event will be of interest to a wide audience- owners’ management companies, Approved Housing Bodies, residents, property professionals, and other stakeholders in the multi-unit developments sector. 

Speakers

• Henry Murdoch, retired barrister and chartered engineer, and author of Apartment Living in Ireland, A Practical Handbook for Owners, Owners’ Management Companies, and Managing Agents.

• David McCourt, Director of Asset Management & Property Services, Co-operative Housing Ireland

The 60-minute webinar will take place at 12.30pm on Tuesday 25 April 2023.

Registration is free of charge via this Zoom link-

https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_XQ6UNfKRTBO86YgySUngPw

Questions may be emailed to MUD@housingagency.ie

The session will be recorded for future use.

Places are limited to 1,000 attendees on a first-come first-served basis.

By registering for this webinar you consent for the purposes of event management to the processing by The Housing Agency of your personal data (name and email address).

Disclaimer

Information provided during the webinar is general in nature.  It should not be considered to amount to legal advice, and no reliance should be placed on it.  The Housing Agency and webinar presenters cannot be held responsible for actions or failure to act on foot of the information provided.  There may be other issues or circumstances that would influence the comments provided.  Professional legal advice might be necessary on individual circumstances.

The Cost Rental Tenant In-Situ (CRTiS) Scheme is a new scheme that is available where a tenant household faces the termination of their tenancy due to the landlord’s intention to sell the property. The scheme is available if the tenant household:

• Is not seeking to purchase the property from the property owner/landlord.
• Does not own any other residential property.
• Is assessed by the Local Authority to be at risk of homelessness.
• Is not eligible to qualify for social housing support or is not in receipt of social housing support in their current tenancy (the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) or the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS).
• Has an annual net household income of no more than €66,000 per annum for applicants in Dublin and below €59,000 per annum for applicants elsewhere.

Local Authorities have responsibility for the assessment of applicant tenant households in receipt of a valid notice of termination due to the landlord’s intention to sell the property. Potential applicants should contact their local authority and make an appointment to see the Housing Officer. The Housing Officer will assess the applicant’s risk of homelessness and whether they may be eligible for social housing. When they get an appointment to meet the Housing Officer they will need to bring, (i) A valid Notice of Termination: (ii) Proof of their income, (iii) evidence that they have a long term right to reside in the country.

An applicant tenant household must have net annual income of below €66,000 per annum for Dublin and €59,000 for everywhere else in the country. Net income means that income tax, Universal Social Charge, PRSI and superannuation contributions are deducted from the relevant assessable gross income.

If the local authority is satisfied that the applicant tenant household is eligible for CRTiS they will pass the details of the tenant and the property to the Housing Agency for consideration for potential acquisition under the CRTiS Scheme. The Housing Agency will then engage with the tenant and the tenant’s landlord with a view to acquiring the property.

If a tenant has a query about Cost Rental Tenant In-Situ they can contact the Housing Agency via email at tenantinsitu@housingagency.ie

CLICK HERE - CRTiS - A Guide for Tenants and Property Owners

CLICK HERE - Cost Rental Tenant In-Situ Privacy Notice