Morning, Friday, 29th May 2026
Online
This conference will examine key issues for housing policy and delivery in Ireland.
It will bring stakeholders and policymakers together to discuss implementation of recent planning reform - including the Planning and Development Act 2024 and the revised National Planning Framework - alongside the Delivering Homes, Building Communities strategy, and its aims to build 300,000 houses by 2030, improve affordability, and tackle homelessness.
Delegates will consider alignment with long-term goals in Project Ireland 2040, and assess the effectiveness of measures set out in current housing policy and strategy, alongside practical issues for projects moving forward - including concerns from some around feasibility, under-delivery of social housing and a need for clarity on different tenure types.
Lessons from the Housing for All programme since its launch in 2021, alongside findings from the Housing Commission Report will also be considered - including their role in informing strategic reform and developing a more sustainable system for housing in Ireland. There will also be a focus on tackling homelessness, as the Youth Homelessness Strategy is implemented and with the Child and Family Homelessness Action Plan expected to be published shortly.
New housing targets - policy, funding & meeting demand
Delegates will look at what is needed for implementation of the revised NPF, alongside the Planning Act, and the potential impact on housing delivery timeframes, local planning decisions, and zoning practices. Priorities for creating a pipeline of zoned land will be examined, with discussion on the role of the Land Development Agency, the new Housing Activation Office, the strategic role of Urban Development Zones, and co-ordination of housing policy with infrastructure provision and workforce availability.
Attendees will also consider latest thinking on funding streams and financing models to boost private sector delivery of housing, optimise public schemes, and improve viability. Challenges faced by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies in accessing capital for social housing projects will be examined, alongside how concerns from some might be addressed around a shortage of finance needed to build 300,000 homes by 2030. Priorities for Home Building Finance Ireland and the Housing Finance Agency in delivery will be assessed, alongside the future direction for Real Estate Fund structures, as well as coordination with funding available through the European Affordable Housing Plan.
Addressing challenges for development - national and local alignment, capacity to meet demand & workforce skills
Further concerns around the alignment of local development plans with national housing targets will be discussed, alongside consistency and pace of zoning decisions, and operation of statutory timelines. Delegates will assess the capacity of local authorities, An Coimisiún Pleanála, and the private sector to manage increased demands, as well as approaches to skills development and utilisation of additional supply to mitigate pressures. Strategies to support the private sector will be considered, including in attracting capital and mitigating baseline costs.
With concerns around the capacity of the construction workforce to meet housing targets, attendees will look at approaches to upskilling the workforce, training for modern methods of construction, and retaining talent. Expectations for skills initiatives will be discussed, including a forthcoming 5-year Action Plan for Apprenticeships and a National Framework for Meeting Priority Construction Workforce Needs.
Tackling homelessness, increasing social housing supply & addressing affordability concerns
The agenda also includes a focus on what is needed to help progress towards meeting the Government’s aim to end homelessness by 2030 and developing a homelessness prevention framework. Next steps for strengthening support measures for exiting temporary accommodation, the role of housing authorities, and the Housing First programme will be explored, as well as effective coordination between national government, local authorities, and Approved Housing Bodies, including funding provision and guidance for child-centred support.
Ways forward for increasing social housing will be considered, with some stakeholders pointing to a potential gap between demand and delivery in the Delivering Homes plan. Sessions will look at practicalities for sectoral reform initiatives outlined in the Report of the Approved Housing Body Strategic Forum, including new funding and income models.
Discussion will also focus on options for improving housing affordability, with aims for 15,000 starter homes to be built annually under the Delivering Homes plan, and further moves designed to support home ownership - including coordination of the Help to Buy Scheme, First Home Scheme and Shared Equity. Implications of reform to the rental sector to support affordability will be assessed, such as greater support for tenants, the extension of Rent Pressure Zone rules, and a system of rent control for new tenancies from March 2026.
Community needs, regional development & regeneration
Further sessions consider how housing policy can best support needs within the community. With a forthcoming action plan on social and private housing for older people, the Student Accommodation Strategy, and ongoing implementation of the National Housing Strategy for Disabled People: 2022-2027, delegates will look at how these can best be implemented to meet specific housing needs, with discussion on balancing high design standards with pace and cost of delivery - as well as priorities for a Building Standards Agency.
The agenda will also explore next steps for regional development and regeneration. Priorities for planning and funding in rural areas, towns, and villages will be assessed - with initiatives such as the Town Centre First Principle, support for SME housebuilders, designation of key towns, and the Rural Development Investment Programme. The effectiveness of policies in tackling dereliction and vacancy to create additional supply will be considered, looking at options for city development, housebuilding to be prioritised in existing urban zones, and next steps for a taskforce model to be applied to Ireland’s cities.
All delegates will be able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates.
