Irish Council for Social Housing

Building a Sustainable Future Together – We’re in the midst of a crucial decade of delivery for climate action. In the wake of the Paris Agreement and the declaration of a global climate and biodiversity crisis, there is a need for unprecedented environmental action by governments, organisations and citizens. ? According to the SEAI Energy in Ireland 2024 report, homes are responsible for approximately 15.4%* of Ireland’s current energy-related GHG emissions (CO2eq) - the highest sector behind electricity generation & transport. Reducing the emissions from homes is therefore at the heart of the clean energy transition in Ireland. The Approved Housing Body (AHB) sector can play a key role in achieving Irelands climate action targets. In 2024, Clúid and 6 of the largest AHBs managed almost 45,000 homes across the country. With the appropriate funding in place, Clúid and the AHB sector can have an even greater impact towards achieving Ireland’s climate targets. ? Today, the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council and the Climate Change Advisory Council reported that Ireland faces a bill of up to €26bn if EU climate targets are missed. Read the article at https://lnkd.in/ercFwfwS ? #ParisAgreement #climatecrisis #biodiversitycrisis #climateaction #ResidentialGHG #housingalliance

Excellent Piece here from #AHB member Tuath Housing Association CEO Sean O'Connor “There is this criticism of the sector displacing other potential buyers. The majority of our output is apartments. And since the private sector retreated from that, the fact that we have stepped in to forward fund is keeping the output up. “We're keeping apartment development going. And I would say, unequivocally, it is a better for the country that we deliver apartments than the private rental sector (PRS). There is a place for PRS, but the rents they charge are exorbitant.” O’Connor said Tuath Housing Association does not “rock up to finished housing estates and write a cheque”. “It doesn't happen like that. We make stage?payments to developers through forward funding arrangements and through forward purchase agreements, we sign an agreement to buy properties. “The latter is quite a safe option for us because there's no stage payments and once a price is agreed, that's it. There's no cost inflation. Main risk we have is maybe a contractor solvency issue.” He added AHBs then have to face the pressures of repay that capital. “There is some concern about the money the state pays AHBs, but we have to pay it back, and we pay it back with interest on it. “The majority of our funding funds come from the Housing Finance Agency plc. The point I'm making is, people might feel we have been gifted this money. That’s not the case, we we have to worry about repaying it, and with interest.” Tuath, which added 2,489 new homes to its portfolio in 2024, now has 15,000 properties under management. Last year, it cost the charity an average of €365,000 to deliver each new property. Broken down further, the average price paid for a house was €355,000 and an apartment was €378,000. O’Connor is currently eyeing up how Tuath Housing can add a further 5,000 units to meet its target of 20,000 homes under management by 2027. While it’s doable, it will come at a cost. “On our more recent contracts on projects, which have just started in the ground or are about the start, the average cost of the forward-funded apartment last year we agreed was €446,000,” O’Connor said. “The main frustration for us at the minute is never ending rise in costs. A large thrust for the government's program is about accelerating housing supply. But I think it just needs to be a laser focus on affordability and viability. https://lnkd.in/et9szMpF #AHBs #approvehousingbodies #socialhousing #affordablehousing #costrental #sustainablecommunities

I was delighted to chair the first webinar in The Housing Agency Ireland new four-part webinar series introducing the concept and policy around community-led housing in Ireland. It was a privilege to be joined by Tom O'Donnell and Dr Sara Lia Brysch for a discussion on ‘Introducing community-led housing’, which took place Wednesday February 12th. Introducing community-led housing looked at international examples including the current context in Portugal and touched on the many groups and communities championing community-led housing in Ireland. I’m looking forward today to the next webinar in the series ‘Community-led housing as affordable housing’ where we will be joined by Eduard Cabré Romans, International Relations Consultant at the Barcelona Municipal Institute for Housing and Renovation (IMHAB). Ailbhe Cunningham, Socially Engaged Architect, Cork Community Land Trust Steering Committee Member and Eve Olney, Socially Engaged Creative Producer, Cork Community Land Trust Steering Committee Member. The webinar takes place today Tuesday, February 26th. I hope you can join the journey of this series by registering for the webinars over on our website here https://lnkd.in/gQ-9HHsZ .

Delighted to have published this working paper with Altaf Hossain on housing precarity among low-income Bangladeshi migrants in Dublin. It examines this population's strong reliance on sharing/ subletting, often with other migrants, to access accommodation. Because these migrants face strong barriers to securing a private rented tenancy, subletting is a vital source of accommodation for them and brings some additional benefits in terms of strengthening their networks and supports within their community. However it is a highly precarious and often severely overcrowded form of accommodation. Interviewees told us about the sacrifices they were forced to make to make in terms of privacy and dignity and the pressures they faced to maintain good relations with the 'head tenant' in order to access and continue subletting arrangements.

The Future of Housing is Green ?? #ISHF2025 will be held at the Convention Centre Dublin, the world's first carbon-neutral convention center! We'll be incorporating a range of sustainable practices into the festival. This partnership is a major step forward in our commitment to sustainability and creating a more ethical future for housing. Join us at the Convention Centre Dublin this June and be part of the conversation on building a greener future for housing: https://lnkd.in/eYmAj6sw Housing Europe | Irish Council for Social Housing | Co-operative Housing Ireland #SocialHousing #HousingPolicy #CooperativeHousing #AffordableHousing #NewHousingParadigm

Applications are now open for 28 new Cost Rental homes at Claí Mór, Old Monivea Road, Ballybrit, Galway City!? These duplex apartments offer high-quality living at exceptional value. Each home is designed to a high specification, achieving a BER A rating and ensuring comfort and sustainability. ?Claí Mór is ideally located 7km from Galway City Centre, close to excellent transport links and a variety of shops, restaurants, amenities and services including Galway Clinic, University Hospital Galway, Bon Secours Hospital and Merlin Park. Nearby employers include Boston Scientific, Medtronic, Integer, Merit Medical, Electronic Arts Ltd. (EA), and SAP Ireland Limited.? With rents for Claí Mór set at 33% below average local market rates, Cost Rental offers a long-term, secure tenancy that is more affordable. ? 1-bed duplex - €1,100 per month??? 2-bed duplex - €1,400 per month??? 3-bed duplex - €1,600 per month?? ?? ?To see the full eligibility criteria and to apply, visit the Tuath Housing website:?https://lnkd.in/dQcRefyT Comhairle Cathrach na Gaillimhe / Galway City Council Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage The Housing Agency Ireland Housing Finance Agency plc Irish Council for Social Housing

New Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) report on #retrofitting private rental sector has some useful data using both Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) datasets. 250k private rentals need about 30k each = €7bn to €8bn. International research has indicated that sub-optimal investments in?energy efficiency in the rental sector occur quite frequently due to market failures?and the split incentives in cost and yield on investment. There are likely to be both demand and supply side factors that act to inhibit investment in retrofit in such properties. The report says it's important that any policy interventions take a balanced approach to rental sector upgrades. This?includes weighing up the need to make progress, but also the dangers this process?might pose for tenants in particular, as it could potentially result in a reduction of?the rental stock at a time where there are already significant shortages relative to demand. However the report also states that some of the most vulnerable tenants in the PRS live in the least energy efficient properties at present; Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) and Rent Supplement tenants have the highest share of properties with a BER rating of F or G. https://shorturl.at/5FuSi

The Tuath New Horizons Education Bursary is now?open for applications! We are delighted?to announce that the first round of applications for the New Horizons Education Bursary 2025 is now open! This bursary offers residents to chance to apply for up to €2,000 in funding to invest in education or training programs of their choice. Last year, Tuath Housing awarded just under €30,000 in bursary funding to 35 residents - supporting courses from university degrees and professional training to personal development. This year, we’re committed to helping even more residents achieve their education and career goals. Apply now and take the next step in your learning journey! ? Deadline: Friday?11?April at 5PM Find out more and?apply:?https://lnkd.in/eHYjx344 ? Don't miss this opportunity—your future starts today!

Productive day yesterday for the Irish Council for Social Housing staff alongside the Housing Europe team in Brussels, going through a record number of submissions for the ISHF - International Social Housing Festival #ISHF2025 in Dublin 4-6 June 2025 Register here: https://lnkd.in/eYmAj6sw

The second webinar in our four-part webinar series on community-led housing takes place on February 25th, 12pm – 1pm. ‘Community-led housing as affordable housing’ features guest speakers Eduard Cabré Romans, International Relations Consultant at the Barcelona Municipal Institute for Housing and Renovation (IMHAB). Ailbhe Cunningham - Socially Engaged Architect, Cork Community Land Trust Steering Committee Member and Eve Olney, Socially Engaged Creative Producer, Cork Community Land Trust Steering Committee Member. This webinar will see panellists come together to discuss how community-led housing can be a way to provide affordable housing. The session will include international examples from Barcelona and Girona as well as exploring the experience of Cork Community Land Trust. To register for this event and the sign up for the for the series, visit our website here https://lnkd.in/eRsrVr2Z