The National Housing Strategy for People with a Disability (2011-2016 (extended to 2020)) will come to an end this year. A new national strategy is now being developed. The strategy is about facilitating the provision of housing options and related services to disabled people to allow individual choice and support independent living. 

Do you have a disability, care for a disabled person or work in supporting independent living for disabled persons? If yes, have your say on the plan.

We want to hear your views on the current strategy and what you would like to see included in the new national strategy. In order to get involved today, fill out this 10-15 minute questionnaire. The survey is anonymous and confidential. 

The closing date for this round of consultation is Friday 23 April. A further round of consultation on the drafted aims and objectives will be carried out over the summer and autumn months.

Thank you for taking the time to let us know your views, which will feed into the development of the new strategy.

Information you supply as part of this process will be handled in line with our Privacy Notice (read here).

Take the Survey in English   |   Take the Easy Read Survey   |   Tóg an Suirbhé as Gaeilge

	Survey Documents - English	Easy Read Survey Documents - English	Cáipéisí Suirbhé as Gaeilge
	Click here to download an editable Word version of this survey. this can be filled out and emailed to disabilitystrategy@housingagency.ie.	Click here to download an editable Easy Read Word version of this survey. this can be filled out and emailed to disabilitystrategy@housingagency.ie.	Cliceáil anseo chun leagan ineagarthóireachtas Word den suirbhé i nGaeilge a íoslódáil. Is féidir é sin a chomhlánú agus a chur ar ais tríd an ríomhphost chuig disabilitystrategy@housingagency.ie
	Click here to download and print a PDF version of the survey. This can be filled out and posted to: Disability Strategy, The Housing Agency, 53-54 Mount Street Upper, Dublin D02 KT73.	Click here to download and print an Easy Read PDF version of the survey. This can be filled out and posted to: Disability Strategy, The Housing Agency, 53-54 Mount Street Upper, Dublin D02 KT73.	Cliceáil anseo chun leagan PDF den suirbhé i nGaeilge a islodáil agus a chur i gcló. Is féidir é sin a chomhlánú agus a chur ar ais tríd an bpost chuig: An Stratéis Michumais, An Ghníomhaireacht Tithíochta, 53-54 Sráid an Mhóta Uachtarach, Baile Átha Cliath D02 KT73.

If you would like a copy of any of the above to be posted to you, please contact The Housing Agency on +353 (0)1 656 4100. 

• Watch our video to guide you through the survey.
• Watch this message from Minister of State with responsibility for Local Government and Planning, Peter Burke TD .

The Housing Agency has today November 7th 2024, published the Statement of Strategy 2025 – 2029.

This strategic plan, the first five-year plan published by The Housing Agency and the fifth Statement of Strategy since its establishment in 2012, provides an opportunity to build on the achievements of the Agency’s previous strategies. The Strategic Plan 2025-2029 has been informed by external and internal consultation on the key challenges facing the housing system and how these impact the priorities of the Agency

Over the period of this Strategic Plan, the Agency will continue to work to deliver the homes people need. Our activity will be structured under three themes:

• Theme 1: Being a Centre for Housing Knowledge
• Theme 2: Addressing Housing Supply and Affordability
• Theme 3: Supporting the Creation of Sustainable and Inclusive Communities

You can read The Housing Agency Statement of Strategy 2025 – 2029 here - Statement of Strategy 2025 – 2029

The Housing Agency is delighted to announce the winner of the 2024 Essay Prize competition. This prize is awarded to the most original student essay submitted for assessment as part of the Institute of Public Administration’s Professional Diploma in Housing Studies. This year’s winner is:

Haley Curran for the essay entitled “Housing Co-operative 2.0: how could a co-operative housing model work in the modern Irish housing landscape?” which has been published on our website here.

In addition, there were two runner-up prizes awarded. These were:

Diarmaid Hough for the essay entitled “An examination of the State’s ability to address the need for housing provision through the use of semi-state bodies”

and

Orla Connaughton for the essay entitled “Exploring the Limitations of the Housing First Model in Ireland”

The Housing Agency would like to congratulate the winner and the runners-up on the quality of their essays, the originality of their research, and their engagement with public policy.

The Housing Agency is committed to supporting the education, training, and development of Ireland’s housing practitioners.

For more information on the education and training options available for housing practitioners, please see www.housingtraining.ie.

Information about the Institute of Public Administration’s Professional Diploma in Housing Studies, as well as other courses relevant to housing practitioners, can be found here and here.

As part of Pride Month, the Policy & Practice team at The Housing Agency carried out a literature search to bring together in one place a list of housing and accommodation related research and publications which provide insights into the experience of LGBTQI+ people in Ireland.

This paper is structured as a bibliography, providing the title, reference and access link to the 11 publications that were found to meet the criteria of; providing insights into the LGBTQI+ experience of housing in Ireland for the 2014 to 2024 time period which were publicly available.

You can read the paper here Irish LGBTQI+ Housing Related Publications Paper 2024.pdf (housingagency.ie) 

The Research Summer Series is back for 2024! On June 18th, the first of The Housing Agency’s Research Summer Series of webinars will discuss Housing Choices for a Sustainable Future. This sessions speakers are Martin Colreavy, Senior Adviser, Strategic Delivery and Urban Advisory, at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and Philip Comerford, Independent Architect, Housing and Urban Infill, at Philip Comerford Architects, Dublin.

The summer series will bring together housing practitioners, academics and public servants to discuss housing research. The webinar will be of particular interest to architects, quantity surveyors, engineers, housing practitioners and policymakers.

You can register for the webinar here – Housing Choices for a Sustainable Future Tickets, Tue, Jun 18, 2024 at 12:00 PM | Eventbrite

Martin Colreavy will discuss innovation and efficiencies in the design of affordable housing, featuring case studies from Ireland and the EU. The presentation will explore key topics within the current landscape of affordable housing and discuss how affordable housing can be effectively delivered through innovation in construction and design.

Philip Comerford will discuss the whole life-cycle carbon emissions of different dwelling types found in Ireland. He will provide an examination of the climate impacts of housing and explore how policy goals and housing choices can create low energy and climate resilient sustainable communities.

The Housing Agency has today launched the call for applications to the 2024 Research Support Programme. 

The Research Support Programme funds research responding to topical housing issues that have the potential to impact housing policy and practice. 

You can find more information here - https://www.housingagency.ie/Funding-Opportunities

If you would like to receive updates and details about the call for applications for the Research Support Programme please email researchsupport@housingagency.ie 

The National Study of Housing Experiences, Attitudes and Aspirations in Ireland - Residential Satisfaction Report 2023 has been launched. 

The study measures householders’ satisfaction levels with their homes and neighbourhoods and investigates their aspirations for future housing.

The national study commenced its first wave in 2018, the second wave was conducted in 2019 and the third took place during pandemic restrictions in 2020.

The report presents the findings of a nationally representative survey of 1,212 householders in Ireland and qualitative focus groups, with a further 47 householders as part of the fourth wave of the National Study of Housing Experiences, Attitudes and Aspirations in Ireland.

You can read the report below:

National Study of Housing Experiences, Attitudes and Aspirations in Ireland

National Study of Housing Experiences, Attitudes and Aspirations in Ireland  - Accessible version

Examination of innovation/ efficiencies in design of affordable housing is a report jointly prepared by The Housing Agency and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

The report highlights how quality affordable housing can be most effectively delivered by demonstrating innovation and efficiencies in construction and design.

The research was carried out by Bucholz McEvoy architects.

Purpose of Report

This report serves as sequel to The Housing Agency report "Social, Affordable & Co-operative Housing in Europe", which featured case studies from Switzerland, Austria, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark into innovations in design and construction of social, affordable and co-operative housing in Europe. 

The 12 Irish case studies are situated in Dublin, Galway and Limerick, encompassing small (up to 50 units), medium (50 – 150 units), and larger schemes (150 plus units). There are 4 additional EU case studies from Austria, France and the Netherlands which provide a broader perspective and alternative approaches to innovation and efficiencies in design. The report explores the case studies through 5 themes - Strategy, Layout, Materials, Delivery and Occupation. A specific project focus is included within each case study which provide insights into key design decisions or processes integral to the project’s development.

In addition, the report outlines two projects that highlight delivery methods and efficiencies for affordable housing through a comparison of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) on a live sample basis.

You can read the report in full here - Examination of innovation/ efficiencies in design of affordable housing

PRESS RELEASE

Tuesday, 18th July 2023

• Increased Cost Rental Eligibility Thresholds from 1 August 2023
• Changes to Cost Rental Equity Loan (CREL) ensuring AHBs can continue to deliver at scale

The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD and the Chief Executive of The Housing Agency, Bob Jordan, today launched the new Secure Tenancy Affordable Rental (STAR) investment scheme. The Scheme aims to invest up to €750m in the delivery of over 4,000 Cost Rental homes, which will benefit from secure tenancies under Cost Rental housing legislation and will be let at a minimum of 25% below comparable market rental levels in high demand urban areas.

The Scheme, which was signaled by the government in April as a Cost Rental viability measure, will assist in addressing viability challenges for developments by providing equity investment to stimulate the creation of Cost Rental accommodation. Private providers and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) can apply to provide Cost Rental homes under the Scheme and the State will make an equity investment available in return for designation of the homes as Cost Rental homes for 50 years.

By increasing the supply of Cost Rental homes, the Scheme will benefit households who are disadvantaged by prevailing market rents, through providing an option of a home for rent at a more affordable level with security of tenure. The Scheme will also support the government’s objectives of compact growth and creating vibrant liveable cities for people who want to live close to work and urban amenities.

The STAR investment scheme will be managed by The Housing Agency on behalf of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The Housing Agency will be accepting Expressions of Interest from proposers for eligible schemes from 1st August 2023. The Scheme is open to all providers including consortiums, Approved Housing Bodies etc. subject to the eligibility criteria outlined in the Scheme itself.

Commenting on the publication of details of the new Scheme, Minister O’Brien said:

“This new Secure Tenancy Affordable Rental investment scheme will increase the supply of safe and affordable Cost Rental homes at a scale which is crucial to make the rental market work for everybody. The Government is making record investment in housing and we are using every tool at our disposal to activate sites and to boost the construction of new homes at scale. This new scheme provides another avenue for our partners in Approved Housing Bodies, the LDA and our partners in the private sector to help us achieve our ambitious plans as set out under Housing for All.”

The Housing Agency’s CEO, Bob Jordan said:

“The introduction of the Secure Tenancy Affordable Rental investment scheme is an important measure that will expand availability of the Cost Rental model and increase the supply of affordable and secure rental homes in high demand areas across Ireland. The Housing Agency looks forward to supporting the implementation of this Scheme. The first step will be inviting expressions of interest for eligible developments from the 1st August 2023.”  

In tandem with the launch of the new Scheme, the government is announcing increased income thresholds for Cost Rental homes, with net household income limits for eligibility of €66,000 in Dublin and €59,000 elsewhere. These will be introduced across the Cost Rental sector from the 1st August 2023, replacing the former national net income limit of €53,000. The increased thresholds recognise that prevailing rents in the private market have increased significantly in recent years and a large cohort of private renters are experiencing severe affordability challenges, particularly in Dublin. The new thresholds will apply to all Cost Rental homes provided under the Affordable Housing Act 2021.

The government has also agreed significant changes to the Cost Rental Equity Loan (CREL) on foot of a recommendation from the Working Group on the Cost Rental Equity Loan. The CREL is available to Approved Housing Bodies which provide Cost Rental homes. The improved loan will see availability of increased levels of loan finance, together with new State equity investment which will improve the ability of Approved Housing Bodies to bring forward Cost Rental homes.

The suite of measures, including the changes to income eligibility, the new STAR investment scheme and the changes to the Cost Rental Equity Loan will work together to ensure that all the avenues for Cost Rental delivery are exploited to achieve the levels of supply needed under Housing for All.

ENDS

Contact:

Communications Manager at communications@housingagency.ie or STARIS@housingagency.ie

Further information

Cost Rental Eligibility

The net household income limit of €53,000 for Cost Rental was set in December 2021, at the time of the first delivery of Cost Rental homes. The real value of this has been eroded by significant inflation since then as capital costs, interest rates and prevailing rents in the private market have all increased. In response new income limits have been agreed which will apply across the Cost Rental sector to all delivery streams – by AHBs, Local Authorities, the LDA, and any Cost Rental landlord. The national net income limit will be raised to €59,000, while a specific Dublin limit will be set at €66,000, to have effect from 1st August 2023.

The Secure Tenancy Affordable Rental (STAR) investment scheme

The Secure Tenancy Affordable Rental (STAR) investment scheme is intended to activate the delivery of Cost Rental homes to let at a minimum of 25% below comparable market rental levels.

The Scheme will be operated and managed on behalf of the Department by The Housing Agency. The Scheme is time limited and subject to a strict sunset clause. All units in receipt of investment will be completed by no later than two years after the commencement date or by the 31st December 2027, whichever is the shorter.

Funding of €0.75 billion will be made available under the Scheme with the expected delivery of over 4,000 homes.

Key Features of the STAR Investment Scheme

Open to all market operators: The Scheme is designed to be open to all market operators. The main criteria is that in exchange for the investment, operators must bring forward suitable proposals that:

• make available 10 plus residential units for Cost Rental tenure at rent levels of at least 25% below market levels. The proposals must deliver new units which have never been previously rented
• formally designate all units funded as Cost Rental dwellings for a period of 50 years.

It will be permissible for consortiums to apply, e.g., a developer may apply by agreement with the intended holder of the Cost Rental homes but the consortium must be led by the long-term owner, operator and manager of the units.

Level of Investment available: In recognition of the pronounced viability challenges in specific areas of Dublin, it is proposed that two rates of investment will apply under STAR, with a maximum investment of €175,000 in Dublin and €150,000 in the rest of the State. In order to incentivise green development, an additional investment of €25,000 will also be made available subject to meeting sustainable development criteria as set out in Section 7.13 of the scheme.

At the end of the term of the Agreement (50 years) there will be three options for operators:

• Extend the agreement for an agreed period (with the dwellings remaining in Cost Rental usage)
• Make a repayment to the State, together with an uplift if the asset has increased in value, and exit Cost Rental designation
• The State may exercise an option to purchase the dwellings from the owner for market value, taking account of the State’s investment in the properties

Changes to the Cost Rental Equity Loan

Overall State funding to increase from 45% up to 55% of capital costs, on a sliding scale as necessary for viability at appropriate rent levels.

CREL loans (on existing favourable terms) to be joined with new State equity investment element (up to a maximum of 20% equity).

‘Accelerated CREL’ pre-completion drawdowns to be extended to support AHBs in forward funding turn-key acquisition projects, in order to secure more competitive acquisition or development costs.

Why and how governments intervene in land markets; land value tax; public land leasing; and inclusionary zoning are just some of the topics set to feature in a new series of talks organised by The Housing Agency, The Land Development Agency, and the Geary Institute of Public Policy, UCD.

“Talking about Land” is a series of seven talks which will examine how governments in other countries intervene in the management of state lands and land markets to ensure there is adequate affordable housing supply. International experts will share their experiences with Irish practitioners and explore how they can apply their practices to an Irish context.  Each event will see an international speaker sharing a case study of land management in their respective country, followed by a speaker working in housing and land management in Ireland. 

The events will take place at 12pm on Tuesdays between early October and February 2023. The full programme is as follows:

The first session took place on Tuesday 4 October, 2022, 12pm-1pm. Speakers included Prof. Julie Lawson of RMIT University Melbourne, and Prof. Michelle Norris, Director of the Geary Institute for Public Policy, UCD. If you would like to rewatch the first session visit our YouTube channel. 

The second session took place on Tuesday 18 October, 2022, 12pm-1pm. Speakers included Silvia Hofer, Wohnfonds Wien and Niall Cussen, Office of the Planning Regulator. If you would like to rewatch the second session visit our YouTube channel. 

The third session took place on Tuesday 1 November, 2022, 12pm-1pm Speakers included Sami Haapanen, Helsinki City Council and Tom O'Donnell, Self-Organised Architecture Ireland. If you would like to rewatch the third session visit our YouTube channel. 

The fourth session took place on Tuesday 15 November, 2022, 12pm-1pm.  Speakers included Benjamin Davy, University of Johannesburg and Dearbhla Lawson, Land Development Agency. If you would like to rewatch the fourth session visit our YouTube channel. 

The fifth session took place on Tuesday 17 January, 2023, 12pm-1pm. Speakers included Professor Tony Crook, University of Sheffield and Damian Thomas, NESC.  If you would like to rewatch the fifth session visit our YouTube channel. 

The sixth session took place on Tuesday, 24 January, 2023, 12pm-1pm. Speakers included  Dr. Fabian Wenner (University of Munich) and Dr. Ronan Lyons (Trinity College Dublin). If you would like to rewatch the sixth session visit our YouTube channel. 

The seventh, and final session in the series took place on Tuesday, 7 February, 2023, 12pm-1pm. Speakers included John Wacher (Greater London Authority) and Daniel McLoughlin (South Dublin County Council). If you would like to rewatch the seventh session visit our YouTube channel. 

If you have any questions about the series, please contact training@housingagency.ie.