Leading organisations representing different sectors across Irish society speak about the importance of Housing Commission Report
Leading organisations representing different sectors across Irish society spoke at an event initiated by Focus Ireland this morning at Buswell’s Hotel with a shared purpose of highlighting the importance of the Report of the Housing Commission, and to urge all political parties to make the Housing Commission Report central to their Election Manifestos and housing policy thinking.
The organisations represent a wide range of interests across Irish society: from employers concerned about the impact of the housing crisis on competitiveness and their ability to recruit and retain staff, through trade unions concerned about the impact of the cost and scarcity of housing on working people, the lead of organisation for Approved Housing Bodies seeking to provide homes, through organisations representing older people, disabled people, people living in the private rental sector and organisations representing people who are homeless.
While having different perspectives on the Commission Report, the participating organisations share a view that the Report, with its call for a ‘radical strategic reset of housing policy’ is a very significant contribution to public debate. The organisations, which represent people right across Irish society who have been impacted by the housing crisis, spoke about the key reasons why the Commission Report is important from their perspective and how is presents a real opportunity to respond to the challenges faced by the housing system.
“The fact that organisations from such a wide range of interests across Irish society can come together at this event to highlight the importance of the Housing Commission report should be a signal to Government and Opposition parties that this report contains many of the answers they are looking for and deserves much more of their constructive attention than it is currently receiving”, said Mike Allen, Director of Advocacy at Focus Ireland.
Irish Congress of Trades Unions (ICTU) Owen Reidy, General Secretary said: “We need to take seriously the report of an expert representative grouping set up by state.”
IBEC Head of Infrastructure & Environmental Sustainability, Aidan Sweeney said: “Our position is that housing delivery needs to prioritised by the next Government. The Housing Commission recommendations are important, but it is not the only game in town, so to speak, in terms of immediate steps to address the housing crisis such as the National Planning Framework, Planning & Development Bill.”
Irish Council for Social Housing (ICSH), Director of Policy, Ailbhe McLoughlin, said: “We must Increase the size of the social and cost rental housing stock to 20% of the national housing stock so that these sectors will provide a substantial source of rented housing to lower- and middle-income households in future.”
Simon Communities of Ireland Executive Director, Wayne Stanley, said: “We need to Integrate housing and homelessness plans, funding, and strategies to ensure a consistent whole-of-government approach”
Threshold National Advocacy Manager, Ann-Marie O’Reilly said: “There is a need to Increase social and cost rental stock to 20% of total housing stock and also reform HAP.”
Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) Jean Coleman, National Housing Programme Manager said: “We must increase the supply of supported social housing and expand provision of care and support services for tenants living in general needs social housing to meet the needs of disabled people and an ageing population.”
Seán Moynihan, Chief Executive Officer Alone said: “As our population gets older we need to address the housing needs of older people.”
Note to Editors:
The Housing Commission was established under the current Programme for Government to examine issues such as tenure, standards, sustainability, and quality-of-life issues in the provision of housing, all of which have long-term impacts on communities. The Commission was chaired by former CEO of the Housing Agency, John O’Connor, with 11 members appointed by the Minister for Housing, Darragh O’Brien, with wide range of different experience and perspectives across the housing system.
The Commission’s work commenced in January 2022 and was completed in May 2024. Reports of The Housing Commission were published on 22 May 2024. ‘The Commission’ ceased to exist shortly after the publication of the report.
The Commission produced a number of reports, the event concentrates on the main ‘Report of the Housing Commission’ which dealt with “considering long-term housing policy while building on the policy changes outlined in ‘Housing For All’ and related Government policies”
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