eolas Magazine issue 66 by bmf business services

Renewable Energy Summit 2024

Thursday 14 November • Croke Park, Dublin

Energy Ireland’s Renewable Energy Summit, now in its 21st year, is the major event bringing together the renewable energy sector as a whole. Attracting over 200 key stakeholders, attendees will hear from an impressive line-up of expert speakers looking towards Ireland’s renewable energy future.

Digital Events Publications

Collective failure...

One year ago, in November 2023, this column commended the foreign policy approach of Ireland towards Palestine as an outlier among western counterparts. In the meantime, however, consequential action has been limited.

While the formal recognition of the State of Palestine and intervention in South Africa’s case against Israel is commendable, the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018 has yet to be enacted and commenced. Simultaneously, the Department of Transport concedes that Ireland’s air sovereignty has been violated by aircraft allegedly transporting the wares of Israel’s war.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian people – particularly in Gaza –continue to be ground into the earth by an unchecked state emboldened by the stark asymmetry of its technological, financial, and diplomatic might.

Each day, amid the ongoing ICJ case of alleged Israeli genocidal intent in Gaza, a carnival of unspeakable cruelty – including war crimes and crimes against humanity – fill screens and timelines.

The exemption of Israel from the international rules-based order applied so thoroughly in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has perfectly exposed the hypocrisy of unipolarity. Similarly, relative silence has damaged the EU’s credibility. In short, amid a collective failure of humanity, Ireland must position itself at the vanguard of sanctions.

Ciarán Galway Editor

November/December

Editorial

Ciarán Galway, Editor ciaran.galway@eolasmagazine.ie

David Whelan david.whelan@eolasmagazine.ie

Fiona McCarthy fiona.mccarthy@eolasmagazine.ie

Joshua Murray joshua.murray@eolasmagazine.ie

Matthew O’Hara matthew.ohara@@eolasmagazine.ie

Advertising Sam Tobin sam.tobin@eolasmagazine.ie

Design

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67 Decarbonisation of assets report

72 The Public Sector Climate Action Mandate

76 CAP24: The framework for decarbonising Ireland’s assets

78 HSE’s path to decarbonisation

79 Housing report

80 Minister of State Alan Dillon TD on transforming the planning system

90 Defining the annual housing delivery target

94 Dara Turnbull, Housing Europe: Irish housing context relative to Europe

106 A closer look at Sinn Féin’s alternative housing plan

110 Budget 2025 and housing

126 ESRI establishes link between credit availability and rising house prices

Europe

Tánaiste deems Occupied Territories Bill partially ‘unconstitutional’

The Occupied Territories Bill, which has been on the statute books since 2018, will not be brought forward in the lifetime of the current Dáil, Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin TD has said.

Having brought the Bill, which was introduced by Senator Frances Black in 2018, to the Cabinet, Martin stated that two elements of the Bill, which ends trade with Israeli organisations based in the occupied territories, are unconstitutional, and said that it will be reformed in order to bring it in line with EU trade law.

Previous attorneys general had advised that the Bill was contrary to European Union trade law, but a ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in July 2024 meant that

there was a “new context” to the proposal, according to Martin.

The ICJ found that Israeli settlements in the Occupied West Bank and Occupied East Jerusalem are in breach of international law and that Israel’s occupation of those territories amounts to long-term annexation which has undermined the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination.

In spite of the delay, Martin has said that while “there are a range of complex policy and legal issues to be resolved”, the Government is “committed to taking forward this work, commencing with a review of the Bill, to be progressed in consultation with the Attorney General, relevant ministers, and the sponsor of the Bill”.

HEALTH

eHealth legislation put before Dáil

Legislation which would allow patients digital access to their health records has been presented to the Dáil by Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly TD.

The Health Information Bill 2024 aims to provide enhanced patient access to, and control over their own health information while also enabling health professionals to have easy access to patient health records, with the objective of providing them a more complete, holistic view of the patients they are treating.

Speaking about the new legislation, Donnelly

says: “The Bill empowers the HSE to draw together health information from across care settings for the development and deployment of digital health records for all patients. The Bill is an important step in supporting integrated care and is fundamental to achieving the health service improvements envisioned in Sláintecare.

“The Bill will also support Ireland’s obligations and significant opportunities under the European Health Data Space (EHDS) Regulation, which is due to enter into force by the end of this year [2024].”

PUBLIC AFFAIRS

New Fine Gael deputy leader appointed

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee TD has been appointed by Fine Gael leader Simon Harris TD as the party’s deputy leader.

In line with the party’s rules, McEntee was directly appointed to the role by the party leader, following the resignation of Heather Humphries, who also announced she will not run for re-election in the general election. Humphries had been appointed to the role when Harris became party leader in April 2024, resigning after only six months.

McEntee has been in the Dáil since 2013, when she won a byelection in the Meath East seat following the death of her father, Shane, who was a TD in the region from 2005 until December 2012.

The Climate Change Advisory Council (CCAC) has stated that funding and action on biodiversity conservation and restoration is “totally inadequate” and “underestimates the role of biodiversity in limiting both climate change impacts and the grave risk that ecosystem collapse poses to Ireland’s food security, health and wellbeing and economic development”.

Published in October 2024, the review welcomes “some progress” with increased legal obligations and targets, however, it states that additional financial supports with accelerated action and implementation are “urgently needed”.

In her 11 years in the Dáil, McEntee has served as Minister for Justice on three separate occasions since 2020, as a Minister of State in the Department of Health under Enda Kenny, and as Minister of State in the Department of Foreign Affairs under Leo Varadkar between 2017 and 2020.

Speaking upon her appointment, McEntee said: “I thank Taoiseach Simon Harris for placing his trust in me. He is working with extraordinary energy, with integrity, and with competence as Ireland’s new Taoiseach and as the new Leader of Fine Gael. As deputy leader, I look forward to working with Simon for our country and for our party.”

CCAC: Biodiversity action ‘completely inadequate’

Under the National Nature Restoration Plan, the review recommends that there is an “urgent increase” in funding for the 4th National Biodiversity Action Plan and the development of a “credible plan” to protect at least of 30 per cent of land and sea by 2030.

Chair of the CCAC, Marie Donnelly, says: “Financial support needs to be stepped up, now, so that we can halt and reverse biodiversity loss through the successful implementation of the 4th National Biodiversity Action Plan and the pending National Restoration Plan.”

Justin Kelly named Deputy Garda Commissioner

Justin Kelly has been appointed as Deputy Commissioner of An Garda Síochána (AGS), the second most powerful position in the State’s police service.

The position had been vacant since March 2024. It follows an open competition conducted by the Public Appointments Service. The Government had to readvertise for the position after it was unable to fill the role last year.

A native of Dublin, Kelly, who is in his 32nd year of service with An Garda Síochána, served as a frontline Inspector in Blanchardstown and Clondalkin in Dublin, then as a Detective Inspector in the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau before

ascending to the rank of Detective Superintendent in the Garda National Protective Services Bureau, as Detective Chief Superintendent in the AGS’s Special Detective Unit, and then as head of the Organised and Serious Crime Division between May 2022 and October 2024.

In a statement, Minister for Justice Helen McEntee TD said: “Justin’s career is marked by achievement and results and I know he will bring his experience, skill and huge personal commitment to An Garda Síochána’s mission, to this important senior position.”

Offshore Wind Skills Action Plan launched

An action plan to facilitate a skills workforce for offshore wind has been launched by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

The action plan has outlined two degree-level areas and six further education and training areas for which there is a projected shortfall in Ireland, meaning that the State could be inhibited in meeting its offshore wind ambitions of 5GW of installed offshore wind capacity by 2030 with a further 2GW in development for non-grid uses such as green hydrogen production, as well as the target of 37GW of installed offshore wind capacity by 2050.

To meet this shortfall, the action plan recommends attracting experienced hires to meet immediate skills need, the

addressing of potential provision gaps, promotion of longterm workforce growth through attracting inexperienced hires, and adapting skills response to meet emerging needs.

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Patrick O'Donovan says: “There are significant economic benefits to be achieved through the successful development of our offshore wind resources. This industry will bring jobs to our coastal communities, and to communities across the country. Ensuring we have the right skills in place is essential if we are to maximise these economic benefits.”

cúpla focal

“We are teetering on a planetary tight rope...”

António Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations, on a UN report that the global temperature is set to rise by 3oC by the end of the century.

“There’s a certain sense that the life of people in Gaza and the life of people in Lebanon is much less important than Israeli lives.”

Former President Mary Robinson

“What I’d like all the parties to do in the forthcoming general election is to have a section on Northern Ireland and a new Ireland, making unification not just an aspiration but an objective.”

Former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar TD

Planning Act signed into law

The Planning and Development Act 2024, cited as the most comprehensive reform to Ireland’s planning system in over 20 years, has been passed in spite of criticism from opposition TDs that the legislation was “rushed” through the Houses of the Oireachtas, and the consideration of President Michael D Higgins of referring the legislation to the Supreme Court.

The Planning and Development Act 2024 – the third largest piece of legislation in the history of the State – introduces significant reforms to the State’s planning system, marking the most extensive legislative overhaul since the Planning and Development Act 2000.

President Michael D Higgins, although he signed the Act into law, considered referring the legislation to the Supreme Court under Article 26 of the Constitution to clarify whether there may be an interference arising from changes in the constitutional right of access to the

courts and/or the right to litigate.

According to a statement from Aras an Uachtarán: “The President is of the view that, in this instance, the issue of potential unconstitutionality contained in the provisions of the Planning and Development Act 2023 would be more appropriately tested by means of an action determined primarily on proven facts, rather than by way of an Article 26 referral.”

The President’s consideration followed criticism by opposition TDs that the legislation was being “rushed” through

“In Housing for All, we committed to overhauling our planning legislation to ensure it was fit for purpose. This legislation does just that by providing clarity, consistency, and certainty for all users.”

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD

the Oireachtas, with the Dáil passing the Act after only three hours of debate in the chamber, in spite of the Act amounting to over 900 pages, including around 175 pages of amendments which were added in the Seanad.

Sinn Féin housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin TD accused the Government of showing “contempt” for the legislature and the opposition by adopting this approach, a viewpoint shared by the Irish Planning Institute, the professional body representing planners in Ireland.

In response, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD, claimed that Ó Broin’s assertion was “completely and utterly incorrect”, rationalising that there was ample time for debate as the legislation dates back to September 2021, and involved nine sessions of pre-legislative scrutiny in which two thirds of the recommendations were fully or partially incorporated into the legislation.

Minister O’Brien stated that, at committee stage, there was 115 hours of debate on 1,200 amendments, some of which were duplicates or triplicates, after which there were 320 votes called.

Analysis

Housing and energy experts have consistently claimed that the planning process in Ireland is too complicated and that this is preventing further construction of housing and energy infrastructure, with many cases ending up being drawn out in courts leading to delays in delivery.

One of the central tenets of the legislation is that An Bord Pleanála will be re-named to An Coimisiún Pleanála, and that there will be a complete restructuring of the state planning commissioners, which will be responsible for all decision-making regarding appeals and applications made to them under the new Act.

There will be a separate corporate structure which would be led by a CEO, and have a strengthened management team and organisational structure, which will undertake all organisational and technical functions to support core decision-making roles. There would also be the governing body, which will be responsible for the governance and performance of the organisation.

The legislation also introduces 10-year development plans for local authorities, with local area plans being replaced with specific types of area-based plans. Minister O’Brien has stated that this is with the aim of “enabling local authority objectives to be prioritised, rather than simply being mandatory in nature and drawing resources where not always most needed”.

The legislation also establishes urban development zones (UDZs), which should allow local authorities to designate specific sites for accelerated development, with a streamlined approval process and integrated planning frameworks to promote targeted urban regeneration and housing projects.

Next steps

Speaking the day that President Higgins signed the Act into law, a senior planning

issues eolas

Planning and Development Act 2024: Key new measures

• Promotion of sustainable development: Integration of environmental considerations into all levels of planning, ensuring that future developments are in line with Ireland’s emissions reduction targets under the Climate Action Plan climate action goals. The Act aims to strengthen requirements for environmental assessments, including strategic environmental assessments (SEAs) and environmental impact assessments (EIAs), aligning Ireland’s planning processes with EU directives. Developers will need to ensure that their projects meet these enhanced environmental standards, particularly in sectors like housing, transportation, and energy.

• Changes to local development plans: Local authorities are now required to include specific housing and environmental strategies in their local development plans and make it easier to update plans when needed. Local development plans have also been reformed to cover a 10-year period. The Act also promotes more focused urban and priority area planning, increases public participation in the process, and moves towards digitalising planning documents for better accessibility.

• Reform of An Bórd Pleanála: Reforms An Bórd Pleanála by restructuring it into ‘An Coimisiún Pleanála’, with a new governance model to improve decision-making transparency and efficiency. The reform introduces a governing board and planning commissioners, creating clearer roles and accountability. It also strengthens oversight, giving the Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR) more authority to monitor decisions. These changes aim to speed up the appeals process, reduce backlogs, and ensure that planning decisions are more consistent and transparent.

• Streamlining of permission and appeals: Introduction of faster decision-making timelines and limiting appeals in specific cases, such as developments in strategic development zones (SDZs). It reduces delays by allowing for expedited planning applications and cutting down the number of steps involved in certain types of developments. The Act also curbs the ability to appeal in cases where developments align with pre-approved planning schemes.

• New powers for the Minister and Planning Regulator: The Minister can now issue binding directions to local authorities to amend development plans that do not comply with national or regional strategies. The OPR has enhanced enforcement powers, allowing it to review and ensure that planning authorities are following proper procedures.

• Reforms to substitute consent and retention permissions: Tightening of the rules around substitute consent and retention permissions, which allowed developers to seek retrospective approval for unauthorised developments. The Act significantly restricts the availability of these permissions, making it harder to regularise projects that proceeded without the correct planning approval.

• Housing delivery and affordability measures: Requirement for local authorities to include housing strategies in their development plans. These strategies must address housing needs, particularly the provision of affordable and social housing. The Act also strengthens Part 5 provisions, which mandate developers to allocate a portion of new residential projects for affordable housing.

• Digitalisation of planning: Introduction of digital planning systems, making all planning documents and processes accessible online. This includes the creation of a centralised planning database aiming to improve transparency, streamline applications, and allow for easier public access to planning information.

“It is without doubt the single worst piece of planning legislation in the history of the State and the most controversial and damaging legislation I have seen in my time in the Oireachtas.”

Eoin Ó Broin TD, housing spokesperson, Sinn Féin

official at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage outlined that, following passage, there will be a “phased commencement” of the legislation, and that existing provisions in the Planning and Development Act 2000 will remain in place until the relevant provisions in the Act are commenced.

The Department further intends to publish a comprehensive implementation strategy in due course which will include a detailed commencement schedule, as well as revised planning and development regulations.

Speaking following passage of the Act through the Houses of the Oireachtas, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien TD said: “This is a pivotal moment for government in our efforts to ensure we have a planning system that is fit for purpose, both now and into the future.”

Writing for eolas Magazine, Fine Gael Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Alan Dillon TD, echoed this sentiment: “The new legislation provides clarity, consistency and certainty for all users and planning system which matches our strong ambitions for housing delivery, climate action, and critical infrastructure over the coming decades.

“Arrangements are being put in place to commence the Act on a phased basis to allow for the smooth operational transition of this legislation across the planning system.”

In spite of this, Sinn Féin housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin TD asserts that the Act is “without doubt the single worst piece of planning legislation in the history of the State and the most controversial and damaging piece of legislation that I have seen in my time in the Oireachtas”.

Ó Broin adds: “It will cause untold problems in our planning system. It is unwieldy and unworkable. It will increase confusion and conflict. In turn, this will lead to more appeals and judicial reviews. This will lead to significant delays in the delivery of much needed housing, critical infrastructure, public transport and renewable energy projects.”

Minister O’Brien, however, states that the new legislation is “fit for purpose” and provides “clarity, consistency, and certainty for all users”.

O’Brien adds: “Because of this legislation we will have a planning system which matches our strong ambitions for housing delivery and critical infrastructure over the coming decades.”

Connectivity anytime, anyplace

Three Ireland’s Head of Public Sector Sales, Ken McGrath, sits down with eolas Magazine to discuss digital transformation, customer service, and his organisation’s suite of solutions for public services.

Discussing developments in the last 12 months, McGrath places emphasis on the development of Three’s network. “In the last two years, we have observed growth in our network and, in tandem, 5G services become increasingly embedded.”

While many of the technologies which came of age during the Covid pandemic have been available in one form or another, it took a crisis for them to be optimised. “The ability to work from home has been here for decades, but it took a combination of the pandemic and the advent of 5G broadband services to prompt people to begin working in a more dynamic manner,” the Head of Public Sector Sales explains.

Digital transformation, he adds, happens in cycles. “Changing operators and the subsequent impact on business is a serious consideration for organisations. As such, it

“Ultimately, we want to enable connection to any application, from any device, and in any location. In other words, connectivity anytime, anyplace.”

Ken McGrath, Head of Public Sector Sales, Three Ireland

is essential to have a thorough understanding of service management requirements.

“The sales cycle varies. For SMEs it can be relatively quick, whereas for public service bodies it could be anything from 12 months to 24 months from entry into the market, defining and capturing service management requirements, getting the tender to market, undergoing board evaluation, and awarding the contract.”

Indeed, these contracts can have a timespan of between two and six years from the point that they are awarded; so selecting a strategic partner is a significant consideration. As such, trusted partnership is key, particularly for the large public sector bodies.

“Speaking with several of these public organisations the emphasis on having a strategic partner is clear; they are not merely seeking a provider; they need consistent engagement,” McGrath comments.

In two consecutive years, Three Ireland’s customer care centre in Castletroy, Limerick has been recognised for its customer service excellence, picking up three awards at both the European Contact Centre and Customer Service Awards and the Irish Customer Contact and Shared Services Awards.

McGrath ascribes two fundamental elements to this success:

1. the strength of Three Ireland’s network; and

2. the professionalism of the customer service team itself.

Network

Today, Three Ireland is the single largest mobile telecommunications provider in the State and, as of June 2024, has a market share of 47.2 per cent equating to more than 4.7 million customers. “Our network has grown continuously in recent years,” explains McGrath, adding: “With 99 per cent 4G coverage, and over 92 per cent 5G population coverage, this network is built for data.”

According to Ookla’s Speedtest Connectivity Report for H1 2024, Three Ireland remains the market leader on performance with a median 5G download speed of 137.42 Mbps. Allied to this, Three achieved the best overall performance for 5G consistency in the market.

“Our network team understands the capacity requirements and plans in a customer-centric manner; ensuring the delivery of the best possible network experience. For example, through Covid, we understood that the concentration in urban areas was diluted into rural areas, so the network was reengineered to provide for that. Today, in terms of critical locations where people need network, we continue to deliver as required.

“Differentiating between 4G and 5G is important, but from a user perspective primacy is given to the best possible network experience. The combination of Three’s 4G and 5G together ensures the best network experience possible for our public sector customers.”

Customer service

Acknowledging that Three’s network is critical, McGrath emphasises that layered on top are the customer service agents and applications “to support customers when they need assistance most”.

“As clichéd as it might sound, it is where the rubber hits the road as far as customer experience is concerned. For instance, a major challenge we observe with public sector organisations is billing management and how it is managed proactively.

“Three Ireland has a dedicated public sector team within its customer care centre. This team scrutinises billing on behalf of customers, using the likes of robotic process automation to flag upcoming thresholds. An agent will then proactively engage with the organisation and follow up with the appropriate advice, ensuring a positive customer experience,” he illustrates.

Public procurement

Focusing on public procurement, McGrath indicates

that “the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) has been very effective in driving value for money in mobile services”.

“OGP has created the Mobile Voice and Data Framework which provides for the procurement of a range of mobile voice, text, and data services for eligible public sector clients. In terms of the cost benefit analysis and ensuring value for money, the framework has been successful. Drawdowns from this framework agreement are delivered through direct drawdown or mini-competitions,” he explains.

The framework intends to facilitate public sector bodies with an annual mobile spend of €50,000 or less to acquire the optimal mobile rate by availing of procurement for government agencies under a single contract.

“In a competitive market, the chief considerations are around ensuring optimal productivity and a seamless experience, as well as the ability to respond with agility.

“For Three, this means understanding an emerging challenge before the customer does and being proactive in addressing whatever that might be before it becomes a problem. To date, under the framework, Three has achieved a customer retention rate of 100 per cent, ensuring that relationships are consolidated over many years,” the Head of Public Sector Sales reveals.

Annually, the OGP conducts a competition analysis comprising all qualifying mobile providers across customer support, network coverage, and commercial rates to determine

the best provider. Following rigorous competition between the three main mobile providers in the State, Three Ireland emerged as the OGP’s preferred supplier for mobile contracts expiring between 6 March 2024 and 7 March 2025.

Sustainability

There are also several ESG considerations in the OGP framework. These include:

• WEEE registration and REPAK membership for framework members;

• renewable energy mobile networks;

• low-carbon fleets;

• recycled and recyclable packaging; and

• equipment with green features.

“Government is scrutinising those kind of statistics and data points, examining its supply chain in terms of how it is contributing to sectoral emissions ceilings, carbon budgets, and the national climate objectives.

“As such, it is something that we are very conscious of, especially in the context of EU directives. Fundamentally, considering our own supply chain, we must ask: ‘What are we doing in terms of decarbonisation?’ Likewise, in terms of fleet management, all of Three’s sales teams have moved to electric vehicles. Overall, sustainability is a major consideration for us,” McGrath determines.

Local government

In specific segments of the market, such as local government, Three is observing significant growth. For instance, most of the largest councils in the State – Dublin City Council, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Cork City and County councils, Limerick City and County Council, and Waterford City and County Council – are investing with Three Ireland.

“We are observing a migration from legacy network infrastructure, such as the public switched telephone network, and copper infrastructure which is approaching end of life,” he says, adding: “Take, for instance, traffic management systems. Migrating to new infrastructure had previously been relatively cost prohibitive. Today, migrating from legacy to new infrastructure via Three Ireland’s 5G footprint and IoT infrastructure is a lot more seamless and cost effective.”

Central government

Simultaneously, in the last 12 months, Three has had “much success” winning contracts across central government, from the Department of Education to the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.

“Government departments have a distributed network – they have locations around the country and a geographically dispersed workforce – and Three Ireland has been able to deliver connected solutions for them.

“As our combined 4G and 5G network matures, Three delivers a seamless connected experience. Ultimately, we want to enable connection to any application, from any device, and in any location. In other words, connectivity anytime, anyplace,” the Head of Public Sector sales asserts.

Cybersecurity

In 2020, Three Ireland partnered with Corrata to launch 3Mobile Protect – a mobile threat defence solution for mobile devices and tablets – to protect its clients in the public sector.

“Often, we see organisations using mobile device management software in implementing cybersecurity policy across

“We are recognised as the preferred strategic partner for the delivery of mobile services for the public sector in Ireland.”

their infrastructure. However, this does not provide the full, end-to-end, endpoint protection required on public sector body devices. 3Mobile Protect has the sophistication to recognise the attempts of bad actions attempting to compromise a device, for example via a phishing attack, and takes immediate remediation to prevent this.

“Mobile devices are as sophisticated as desktop devices or laptops and are as vulnerable. As such, it is critical for organisations to appreciate the significance of security. The beauty of 3Mobile Protect is the relative ease of its deployment. Overall, it is the best suited product for meeting the needs of the public sector,” McGrath insists.

Profile: Ken McGrath

Year ahead

Outlining his ambition for the coming year, McGrath is straightforward, he wants to “maintain the momentum we have currently” in terms of network maturity and the suite of services Three Ireland is delivering.

“We are making a strong statement given our achievements in 2024 and we want our market share to continue to grow. There are several significant opportunities set to emerge in the next 12 months as large public sector contracts come to market.

“Our reputation is such that potential partners have confidence in our expertise and application, and we are recognised as the preferred strategic partner for the delivery of mobile services for the public sector in Ireland,” he concludes.

A graduate of Athlone Institute of Technology and GalwayMayo Institute of Technology, Ken McGrath is a resultsdriven and strategic senior sales leader with over 25 years in the ICT sector. Having served as Head of Public Sectors Sales with eir Business for over five years, McGrath moved to the same role with Three Ireland in September 2019 and has been in situ for over five years.

As well as his passion for sales, McGrath is also a committed volunteer, serving as volunteer, sponsor, mentor, and ambassador across various organisations such as the Khan Academy, NDRC, eir Fund, the GDPR Awareness Coalition and the Health Service Executive’s eHealth Ireland Innovation Week and Digital Natives eHealth 2030 competition.

‘Nature needs politics’

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications with responsibility for Communications and Circular Economy, Ossian Smyth TD, states that nature and the environment need political will to deliver transformative change.

Suggesting that previous governments did little to prioritise policy to protect Ireland’s environment, climate, and biodiversity, Smyth believes that while some of the electorate have a negative perception of politicians generally, they do have a pivotal role in safeguarding the country’s environment.

“Politics, of course, has a bad name,” he says, adding: “I think it is associated with bad things in people’s minds, but we need politics and nature need politics. What I mean by that is nature and the environment need genuine political and

prioritised support. Over the last 20 years, there has not always been support in Irish politics for the environment.

“There have not been people saying that we need to spend money to protect nature, or we need to spend time or political capital protecting nature.”

Activism and public attitude

Smyth credits the change in political indifference to the continued campaign of climate justice by young people and

climate activists and suggests that if it were not for continued protests and campaigning by activists and concerned citizens urging the Government to take more measures to safeguard the environment, he would not be Minister of State.

“If we go back to May 2019, there was a climate protest called by young people in St Stephen’s Green,” Smyth recalls.

“I remember going there and thinking: ‘What is happening?,’ because the whole side of Stephen’s Green from the shopping centre all the way to the

Shelbourne Hotel was full of 10,000 young people [who were] full of enthusiasm and excitement.

“A few months later, in September 2019, there were 20,000 people out on the streets and this was a follow-on from Greta Thunberg’s ‘Fridays for Future’ movement. She inspired this movement, and it was a global movement were people, particularly young people, felt their future was at risk. That influenced the elections that happened in 2019 and 2020, and it is the reason that I am here now.”

Legislative accomplishments

After the formation of the new coalition government, then Green Party leader Eamon Ryan TD, along with the other Green ministers, pursued comprehensive climate legislation.

In 2021, the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act was signed into law, committing the State to meet decarbonisation targets by 2030 and a net zero national climate objective by 2050.

“We passed the first binding climate law in Ireland and that sets us on a course to halve our emissions by 2030 and to reach net zero by 2050,” Smyth records.

“That is landmark legislation and something that is going to last beyond this government.”

To date, Ireland has contracted 3GW of offshore wind, with the long-term plan being for the country to reach 20GW of offshore wind by 2040 and 37GW by 2050, meaning Ireland would produce over 12 per cent of Europe’s total energy from offshore wind.

Smyth also commends the EU’s Nature Restoration Law, which aims to rehabilitate at least 20 per cent of European land, inland waters and sea areas by 2030 and all degraded ecosystems by 2050. Almost nine per cent of Irish land is expected to be directly affected by the law.

“What I found in the Nature Restoration Law was that when I went out to the media and talked about it and appealed to people with questions like: ‘Do you as Irish people love nature, do you find that there is a value in nature, and is it something you want to protect?’, people responded with a resounding yes, and they also said they do not want to lose the animals and the creatures that are symbols of our country,” the Minister of State adds.

Support for renewable energy

Smyth emphasised the fact that offshore wind is a “huge resource” for Ireland. He asserts that the country has ideal locations for offshore wind that has been overlooked.

To date, while there are 79 offshore wind farm projects planned within the State, only one is operational. Excluding Arklow Bank, the rest of the projects are not in the build phase and as per ORESS 1, there are only five projects which are either consented or have applied for consent.

Smyth highlights that while no new offshore wind farms have been built in Ireland since 2004, by contrast, Europe has built 1,000 equivalents of the wind farm in Arklow in the last 20 years.

Smyth states that while there has been push back from “a noisy minority” regarding offshore wind, he claims that at least two-thirds of Irish citizens support offshore wind, even in areas where people have a view of the sea. His claim is bolstered by a 2021 survey conducted by researchers and scientists at the University College Cork, which found that 63 per cent believed that offshore wind farms will increase Ireland’s job creation potential and that a clear majority of people who took part in the survey were in favour of offshore wind farms.

“Within a few years’ time, the first of the [new offshore] wind farms will appear and the first one is going to appear in my constituency [of Dún Laoghaire], off the coast of Dalkey,” Smyth outlines.

“Unfortunately it takes more than one term in office and more than five years to do all the consenting, to make the laws and to get the capital in. One thing I can say from government is that there has been no silver bullet and there is no one amazing thing we can do that fixes everything,” he adds.

Reflecting on his time as Minister of State, Smyth is optimistic about the legacy his party has left on policy and legislation.

“It really has been an amazing time for me to spend directing changes; making changes to the world that I can walk past, and seeing public attitudes changing to a position where I never thought we would get to – where people take things for granted that would have seemed farfetched a few years ago.”

Digitalising the decarbonisation of Ireland’s energy system

Hitachi Energy hosted a round table discussion with key stakeholders from across the energy sector to examine how the twin transitions of digitalisation and decarbonisation can transform Ireland’s energy system.

How can enhanced digitalisation accelerate the energy transition in Ireland?

Carmel Owens

One of the biggest challenges is increasing grid capacity in the face of environmental and financial challenges.

The International Energy Agency projects that by 2050, the total size of Ireland’s grid will need to double to meet the net zero ambition. Digitalisation can support this. Around the world, countries are exploring the concept of softwaredefined grids to increase capacity. GlobalLogic understands softwaredefined networks and as such believes that software-defined grids are a key

component in the digital transformation of the energy system.

Rohan Kapoor

From generation to transmission, and distribution to consumption, enhanced digitalisation has a pivotal role to play. Decarbonisation means having distributed renewable energy sources connected to the system alongside data driven decision-making and smart grid management. Digitalisation will enable us to rapidly progress transformation and ensure that we maximise the use of all the resources at our disposal.

Simon Ludlam

The energy industry is ripe for digital disruption. Take for instance the transport industry where ride-hailing services have been totally transformative, unlocking better use of existing assets, reducing prices, and decarbonising journeys. We have a similar potential within the energy industry.

Niamh McGovern

The twin objectives of digitalisation and decarbonisation are at the forefront of economic growth. Consider very large energy users such as data centres and

how critical that they are to digitalisation in terms of how and where we store data. Simultaneously, these extra-large energy users can contribute to decarbonisation –as well as being significant energy consumers – by entering into renewable power purchase agreements, developing on-site renewable energy solutions and otherwise. As such, it is important to recognise the impact that the digital economy is having on our energy sector. Leadership is coming from an EU level, including via the October 2022 action plan on digitalising the energy system, which outlined how this may be implemented over the coming years. I expect we will see more activity in this space at EU level.

Colm O’Neill

Digitalisation and decarbonisation are the leading drivers of change in the 21st century. As a result, digitalisation will impact every aspect of the energy system, from generators, grids, and transmission to distribution, retailers, and markets. Generators are already implementing – and will continue to implement – digital technologies to plan and deploy their assets and using them to establish enhanced visibility of their operations. In transmission and grids,

Round table discussion hosted by

there is an exciting potential to take grids that have limitations and make them much more effective and flexible for consumers. With improved insight, consumers themselves can play a more effective role in decarbonisation. Furthermore, markets will be created around the trading and consumption of energy which, over time, could match the scale of existing financial markets or certainly begin to mimic them. This will unlock an exciting potential for investment and innovation.

Ruairi Williamson

Driving digital transformation requires strong leadership from government, utilities, and regulators. Given the speed at which generative AI has gone mainstream, the need to hasten this transformation is even greater. In the absence of digitalisation, there will be no decarbonisation, and the reality of that twin transition is something that all industry leaders must acknowledge and respond to.

To what extent does successful grid transformation hinge on digitalisation?

Ruairi Williamson

In many respects, the grid is a relatively simple principle of physics, balancing supply and demand. The real challenge is posed by the variability of renewables, the increased integration of renewables onto the supply side, and balancing this with a relatively steady demand side. That is why the grid must transform. Smart technology has an important role to play in ensuring equilibrium and security of supply.

Carmel Owens

From an engineering software perspective, new and digitalised characteristics will herald a whole new generation of grid control systems, enhancing the efficiency of management. The volume of data could be 1,000 times greater than classic solutions, in turn necessitating a new generation of communications systems and analytics.

Colm O’Neill

The grid is caught in a vice between the demand to build more infrastructure and the market rules that it operates within. In the middle of this vice, there is a space inhabited by digital technologies and enhanced access to information. The grid can be more efficiently deployed by improving the flow of information from where it is created to where it needs to be. There is huge potential to achieve enhanced services on the grid using digital technologies. These technologies exist today. Now they must be deployed within the grid infrastructure while creating the markets to allow people to invest in them.

Rohan Kapoor

While, as Ruairi mentioned the concept of grid management is relatively simple today, however, we are moving towards complicated and complex energy systems. What we have today is a very mature ecosystem, from a single source of generation to transmission, distribution, and consumption. Introduce multiple sources of generation and it all suddenly becomes very complicated and dynamic. Use of technology would allow for efficient balancing of variable energy sources, support demand side management, where consumers can adjust energy needs based on real-time information. Ultimately, digitalisation is essential for managing modern renewable powered grids and ensuring their resilience and reliability. 4

Participants

Rohan Kapoor

Rohan Kapoor is CIO at Northern Ireland Electricity Networks and an accomplished technology leader. He specialises in strategy, digital transformation, and cost optimisation within global portfolios. In addition to being an Engineer and MBA, he holds advanced certifications from prestigious institutions such as Oxford, and MIT, his educational background underpins his expertise in driving large-scale transformations. He has spent significant part of last 15 years working for global energy firms to drive technology initiatives delivering significant cost efficiencies.

Simon Ludlam

Simon Ludlam is CEO at MaresConnect, a 750MW interconnector project linking Great Britain and Ireland. He has originated and led several interconnector projects in northwest Europe, including the €500 million Greenlink interconnector and the €800 million ElecLink project. Simon is the founder of Etchea Energy, a developer of energy projects supporting the green transition. He previously worked in investment banking and private equity.

Niamh McGovern

Niamh McGovern is a partner in the Energy team and head of the Energy and Renewables Sector Group at Arthur Cox. Niamh specialises in all aspects of energy and project development, with a particular focus on energy and renewable energy transactions. Niamh trained and qualified at an international law firm in London and has a wide range of experience in the energy sector. Recently, Niamh was the lead legal adviser on the Oweninny Phase II (Nordex) project; Gweedore (Vestas); Drumlins (GE); Coolberrin, Crossmore/Ballylongford (Enercon) and Oweninny Phase I (Siemens).

Colm O’Neill

Colm O’Neill is a partner in KPMG and is Global Head of Power and Utilities advising clients on strategy, mergers and acquisitions and large-scale programme delivery. He has spent most of his career in industry holding CEO and MD roles across a range of industries. He is a regular contributor to industry forums, highlighting some of the barriers to the energy transition that do not get sufficient attention, and he is a strong and vocal advocate for the benefits that the energy transition to driving economic activity, in particular in the Irish economy.

Carmel Owens

Carmel Owens is MD of Athlone-based GlobalLogic Ireland, a global leader in digital engineering. Having joined GlobalLogic Ireland (then Sidero) in 2020, Carmel has more than 20 years of experience in the IT sector. Previously, she held senior executive roles with leading indigenous and multinational technology players, including SQS (Expleo), Version 1, Dell EMC, and Sungard Availability Services. At GlobalLogic Ireland, she is responsible for spearheading continued growth, shaping the company’s strategy, and overseeing daily business operations.

Ruairi Williamson

Ruairi Williamson, a native of Crossmaglen, County Armagh, has now settled in Terenure, Dublin. Ruairi began his education in Abbey CBS Grammar, Newry before undertaking a BEng in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Liverpool. Upon graduation Ruairi joined Suretank Group and spent time in the energy industry in South East Asia, Western Australia and West Africa. Ruairi returned to Dublin, and industrial technology, with Fluke Corporation. Ruairi completed an MBA in the Smurfit School of Business and experienced an exchange in the University of California, Berkley Haas.

“Driving digital transformation requires strong leadership from government, utilities, and regulators. Ruairi Williamson

Simon Ludlam

Ireland leads the way in managing nonsynchronous power on the grid with close to 90 per cent. While we should celebrate that success, we all know that when going from 90 to 100, the last 10 per cent is always the most difficult. The final 10 per cent will not be delivered unless we utilise more sophisticated digital solutions. For instance, AI will play a role in enabling efficient dispatch of competing generation sources including interconnection. Given the distributed nature of these components, a

sophisticated system will be required, ultimately, to the benefit of consumers. However, we must pursue this in a manner that avoids placing significant costs on them. Digitalisation has a key role in that final stage.

Niamh McGovern

Digitalisation is inherently linked to the grid and mission critical in terms of enabling the increasing penetration of renewable energy onto the grid. One area worth mentioning is smart metering and enabling consumers to make informed

decisions, thereby reducing demand on the grid at times of peak demand. We need decisions from regulators to facilitate that and we need enhanced cohesion between stakeholders. While this does not necessarily relate to the grid itself, and appreciating the broader engineering solutions, we must equally apply digitalisation to energy demand.

What specific technologies have the greatest potential to consolidate

Ireland’s energy transition?

Rohan Kapoor

All of the available technologies have a role. There must be a mix of any technologies which are green, clean, and sustainable. Take for instance the context of Northern Ireland, where there is a target of at least 80 per cent of electricity consumption from renewable sources by 2030. That is not going to be easy. Consequently, wind, solar, and renewable gases will play a massive role.

Colm O’Neill

Storage is a very interesting topic at the moment. KPMG Ireland recently hosted a group of its M&A partners from across Europe to discuss energy consumer trends. In some parts of Europe, we have observed a significant increase in battery storage facilities because they are relatively easy to build, and they are not as vulnerable to planning and permitting challenges. However, battery storage in isolation is not regarded as a desirable proposition. Rather, it is preferable to establish a hybrid environment in which renewable energy generation and storage collocated. While storage has a role to play in the energy system, the single

“We may be at an inflection point where we consider how we consume electricity.

Colm O’Neill

biggest leap forward in the last 12 to 18 months – certainly in Ireland – is a move beyond dogma in terms of how we approach the energy transition. Previously, there was a passionate commitment to particular technologies and specific ways of achieving the energy transition. Now, we must press ahead with a multi-technology approach. However, it should be said that depending on technical developments and advances in research and development, certain technologies will ultimately prevail.

Niamh McGovern

Alongside the other technologies mentioned, there is a policy intent to press ahead with offshore wind. Indeed, in October 2024, CRU published the Phase 2 offshore wind grid connection pathway decision paper. Aligned with our offshore ambitions, we must consider our investment in long duration storage and interconnection. Long duration energy storage technologies – including pumped hydro, compressed air, and battery storage technologies – will play a significant role, particularly in the context of our ambitions for surplus energy from offshore wind generation. LDES has significant potential to balance the grid and merits investment alongside technologies like offshore wind.

Carmel Owens

If Ireland is to meet its target of one million electric vehicles on the road by 2030, there is a significant opportunity for us to create infrastructure to support the grid. At the same time, there is a need to establish regulatory support for market participation.

Simon Ludlam

Located on one of the western extremities of Europe, Ireland is in a unique geographic position with access to a rich source of wind. When depressions arrive off the Atlantic Ocean, they first reach the west coasts of Ireland and France. The question is how to best maximise this opportunity and whether certain technologies will be required to harness this wind resource effectively. At the same time, I agree that we need to develop long duration storage and increased interconnection capacity to manage dunkelflautes or curtailment from excess wind. Ultimately, Ireland must decide whether it wants to match the generation of energy it produces with local demand, or whether it takes steps to export it. Of course we can grow our domestic industries, but we can also monetise generation surplus through export and reinvest that into the

“The International Energy Agency projects that by 2050, the total size of Ireland’s grid will need to double to meet the net zero

ambition. Carmel Owens

economy. This strategic decision will influence the scale and type of technologies developed including interconnection, which will send positive investment signals to wind developers in Ireland.

Colm O’Neill

We must talk about nuclear energy. There have been several recent developments, including Microsoft’s 20-year deal with the Three Mile Island nuclear energy plant, Google’s agreement with Kairos Power to order between six and seven small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs), and Amazon’s announcement that it has signed three new agreements to enable the construction of several new SMRs. At the same time, the US Department of Energy has published Pathways to Commercial Liftoff: Advanced Nuclear, its launchpad for the commercialisation of nuclear energy. The Inflation Reduction Act is also driving an enhanced role for the generation of electricity from nuclear power plants via new incentives, making it increasingly attractive to investment. Obviously, Ireland is in a different context, and we do not have an existing nuclear industry. In fact, it is difficult to determine how the State could justify establishing the enabling architecture, such as a regulatory environment, to create a large nuclear facility here in Ireland. It will not happen in my lifetime; however, we must

keenly observe developments in SMR technology and consider whether, at some stage, it might play a role in our energy system.

Niamh McGovern

I agree. Given the mainstreaming of AI, our energy consumption is growing exponentially, to the extent that we do not know what the energy landscape will look like in a decade. Currently, there is a statutory ban on nuclear energy in Ireland and generating electricity via nuclear fission is prohibited under the Electricity Regulation Act. Politically and culturally, it is difficult to envision the construction of a nuclear power plant in Ireland. However, given our economic model, it is incumbent on us to keep an eye on international developments in this space.

Ruairi Williamson

One development that Colm referenced earlier is the establishment of new and flexible markets. We are not sure what they look like or how they will be formed, but they will drive behavioural change. Consumers will be more conscious of peak demand when making a decision to charge an EV or similar. Creating new markets in the distribution and flexibility

“Digitalisation is essential for managing modern renewable powered grids.

Rohan Kapoor

space will help establish equilibrium with the demand side. This will accelerate the energy transition.

What are the major obstacles to the digital transformation of the Irish energy system?

Colm O’Neill

The main challenge is one of culture, as the energy industry is siloed. Engineers think in a disciplined way, breaking down a problem into its constituent parts, and this is reflected in the structure of the industry as a whole. This makes it difficult for people from different sectors to collaborate on a project of mutual

interest. It is far from the only challenge, but adapting culture is the most significant barrier to securing the digital transformation of the energy system.

Rohan Kapoor

A significant challenge in the energy transition is the need for a cultural shift in how projects are approached. Currently, the mindset is focused on achieving strict milestones, but to keep pace with rapid technological advancements, the industry needs to adopt more agile methods. Technology now enables projects that once took three or four years to be completed in just a few months, but the working culture has not adapted as quickly. This outdated approach must be

“Digitalisation is inherently linked to the grid and mission critical in terms of enabling the increasing penetration of renewable energy. Niamh McGovern

overhauled. Another critical challenge is the skills shortage within the industry. While we are pushing forward with technological advancements, it is equally important to address the need for skilled and experienced workers. The energy transition can only succeed if we have the right workforce in place to implement and manage these innovations.

Ruairi Williamson

In practical terms, we have a very old energy system, and we must work with the asset base that exists, using it optimally, notwithstanding that the major obstacle is cybersecurity and building confidence in our digital networks. The confidence in the industry is growing, but there is still an anxiety around cybersecurity. As such, we must ensure that digital technologies are applied in a safe and secure manner.

Niamh McGovern

From an investment perspective, there has been rapid change in the energy sector. In my line of work, I have observed several stakeholders weigh up the costs and benefits of investing in AI solutions and digital infrastructure within the energy sector. In their risk analyses, and a common theme has been that new technology becomes outdated very quickly with the pace of change. This a challenge but also represents a significant opportunity for the sector in terms of keeping up with emerging new technologies.

Carmel Owens

Ensuring adequate skills capacity is a challenge. As an industry, we require talent beyond electrical engineers. We need data scientists for the operation of this new type of grid. The question is, where do we acquire those skills? There is no easy answer to this as these skills are not yet widely available, so this is a major challenge for policymakers.

Simon Ludlam

In most European countries, the energy industry tends to be led by a few dominant players, from energy providers and TSOs to utility regulators and the State. If we want to evolve the sector at pace, the question we must ask is whether we want to put all our resources into the existing framework, or whether we believe third parties can bring a fresh and complementary approach. The energy industry is strategic and too important not to have a large degree of standardisation. We must decide how to bring the change in a manner which maintains this standardisation but also accelerates change.

In approaching the dual transition of digitalisation and decarbonisation, what lessons can be applied from experiences elsewhere?

Ruairi Williamson

From Hitachi Energy’s experience elsewhere, what we have learned is that taking decisive action is the key to progress. In Germany, Norway, and Poland we have seen strong and brave decisions being taken by the TSOs, whereas in Ireland, progress has been slower amid much indecision. If we can get this right, there is a major economic opportunity to be realised.

Colm O’Neill

We may be at an inflection point where we consider how we consume electricity. Throughout history, human prosperity has been inextricably linked to the consumption of energy. When humanity discovered fire, it launched human evolution into a new trajectory which led to the creation of the steam engine and necessitated new fuels, such as coal, gas, and oil. AI presents a challenge to make the next leap in this evolution, as its ability to consume energy is eyewatering. For instance, a search query on Chat GPT consumes around 100-times more energy than one on a traditional search engine. We are at a stage where use of AI is only going to increase, but we do not yet have an electricity network which is capable of meeting the increased demand which will come about with this. We have to ask ourselves, are we agile enough and are we flexible enough?

Niamh McGovern

Equally significant is learning from other sectors; keeping an eye on developments in beyond the energy sector and how they respond to AI is

“The energy industry is ripe for digital disruption. Simon Ludlam

going to be very important. We cannot remain siloed. Many of our European neighbours’ regulators and transmission system operators are making brave decisions. For example, in Germany, following a decision by the regulator, a transmission system operator agreed to underwrite grid delays for the development of offshore infrastructure off the German coast and compensate windfarm developers for grid delays. That sped up the infrastructure development and kickstarted Germany’s offshore sector. These types of decisions being made by other regulators and TSOs are ones that we in Ireland need to be cognisant of.

Simon Ludlam

Europe must continue to show leadership in innovation. We are working with a small company around the minting of carbon offset certificates. This involves using blockchain technology, a smart miner, and a solar panel. For every kilowatt of energy produced, the blockchain expands, providing the solar panel owner with a 10 cents reward, while carbon offset certificates –tradeable in the market – are minted.

Why are we involved in this? We believe that these really cutting-edge technologies could be scaled and applied to large scale generators, such as nuclear power stations in Europe, from which we could trace every electron. Currently, interconnectors are importing and exporting, but we do not fully know the colour of the transiting electrons, and that is something we aim to change. By exploring technologies from both within

and beyond the energy sector, we aim to strengthen Europe’s position as a hub for innovation.

Carmel Owens

I think that with the adoption of things like open systems and open standardstype environments, some very interesting technology solutions will emerge which can then be adapted and applied to the energy industry. This is what we are seeing in the telecoms sector with the adoption of open radio access networks, and this is driving transformation.

Rohan Kapoor

NIE Networks is witnessing significant advancements in the energy ecosystem, and looking to scale these efforts, we can draw inspiration from global exemplars. California, for instance, has successfully implemented large-scale energy reforms, backed by strong regulation. The EU is also leading the way in electrifying infrastructure. Australia offers another perspective, with blockchain technology already integrated into its energy markets. Ireland is uniquely positioned to benefit from these global examples. By learning from the successes and challenges faced by others, we can leverage a later-mover advantage, avoiding past mistakes and capitalising on proven strategies for a more efficient energy transition.

Budget 2025: Continued overreliance on corporate tax receipts

The Government’s Budget 2025 has again indicated that the State’s economy has an over-reliance on corporation tax receipts, with warnings that this continuation leaves Ireland’s economy vulnerable to running up future deficits.

The Budget, which was announced on the 1 October 2024, was both the first for Minister for Finance Jack Chambers TD and the last for the Government.

The Minister said that the Budget presented a unique opportunity to “plan, transform and deliver for the future”.

With an impending general election expected before the end of 2024, the Government has attempted to walk a

tightline to appease both corporations and citizens during a cost-of-living crisis.

The Budget is worth €8.3 billion in tax changes and new spending measures were accompanied by a booming costof-living crisis package worth €2.2 billion.

For the fourth Budget in a row, the Government finds itself in a budgetary surplus which, along with moderate

growth, reduces the State’s net debt ratio over the coming years despite a number of ‘one-off’ cost-of-living measures.

State of the economy

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 1.7 per cent between August 2023 and August 2024, down from an annual increase of 2.2 per cent in the 12 months to July 2024.

Credit: Merrion Street

This figure marked the first time since June 2021 that the State’s official measure of annual inflation has been below 2.0 per cent.

In his address to the Oireachtas, Chambers stated “inflationary pressures have eased considerably, our domestic economy has grown at a robust pace and we continue to experience record high levels of employment”.

Consensus among the Nevin Economic Research Institute (NERI), the Irish Business and Employers Confederation (Ibec), and the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (IFAC) is that the Irish economy remains strong, is operating at or above potential, and the State’s labour market has “never been stronger”.

However, both NERI and the IFAC find that like Budget 2024, Ireland’s over-reliance on tax receipts represents a “dangerous fragility within the tax base”. The Department of Finance’s Stability Programme Update notes that up to half of the corporation tax yield in 2022 cannot be explained by economic fundamentals, while the Fiscal Council in its Fiscal Assessment Report notes that around 43 per cent of all corporation tax receipts come from just three corporate groups.

Therefore, the State’s fiscal outlook is highly dependent on the commercial fortunes and tax decisions of a tiny number of companies making decisions outside of Ireland.

Furthermore, like Budget 2024, the Government has breached its own spending cap of 5 per cent, with Budget 2025 increasing government spending by 6.9 per cent, along with tax cuts worth €1.4 billion.

While it is not uncommon for outgoing governments to increase spending, the Government was able to spend more after it acquired an extra €14.1 billion in unpaid taxes from Apple after a European Court of Justice ruling, which ultimately allowed for more public spending from the outgoing coalition.

Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, Paschal Donohoe TD, who designed the spending cap rule in 2021, defended breaching their rule for the third successive year, stating it had “performed an important service” in putting downward pressure on spending after bigger increases during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Chair of the State’s budgetary watchdog, Seamus Coffey says that while the Government continues to make big promises, it is driving up prices and

making it harder for people to afford the basics.

“Price increases may have slowed, but there are many areas where pressures remain high,” Coffey states.

“If we are to learn from past mistakes, now is the time for the Government to stick to its own rules rather than to have hit reverse later on, and potentially in the next recession.”

Cost-of-living

This year, the monthly cost-of-living for a single person in Ireland is an estimated €990.10 not including rent. For a family of four, the estimated monthly cost-of-living is €3,467.40 with rent excluded, despite inflation falling from 4.1 per cent at the start of 2024, to 2.2 per cent by mid-2024.

Minister Chambers stated the aim of Budget 2025 was to design a budget with the intention of “strengthening communities, building prosperity, tackling the cost-of-living challenges and enhancing living standards”.

He states that the Budget includes a cost-of-living package that is designed to support the most vulnerable and ease the financial burden over the winter months.

Contained within the package are two €125 electricity credits, with one being paid in 2024 and the next in 2025. There will also be a minimum wage increase by 80 cents from 1 January 2025, rising to €13.50 an hour. As part of the package, citizens will receive a 9 per cent of VAT rate on electricity and gas bills, which will be extended to the end of April 2025.

Unlike previous budgets, the Government has not introduced any ‘one-off’ measures to alleviate the cost-of-living crisis for households. The measures already in place have spawned criticism from opposition parties.

Sinn Féin’s spokesperson on Finance, Pearse Doherty TD, says the latest Credit Union Consumer Sentiment Index shows the failure of Budget 2025 to make a difference in people’s lives.

“People continue to be hit hard by the cost-ofliving,” Doherty states. “The reality of the budget is that it barely keeps pace with inflation. That is why half of the public believe Budget 2025 will make no improvement to their living standards, because that has been their experience under this government.”

issues eolas

He added: “People hear about the millions and billions, but they do not feel better off. For most people it is about what’s left at the end of the week.”

At the same time, the Government has also introduced a range of increases in tax credits for carers, with Minister Chambers acknowledging: “Carers play a fundamental role in our society.” Budget 2025 will see the carer’s allowances means-test disregard will increase to €625 for a single person and €1,250 for a couple. The domiciliary care allowance will increase by €20 and the carer’s support grant will increase by €150.

The Government have also instituted a one-off €400 lump sums in November 2024 for carer’s support grant, disability allowance, blind pension, invalidity pension and domiciliary care allowance.

Housing

The Government has allocated €6 billion of capital investment for housing. Of this €6 billion, the Government has allocated €3.1 billion in the exchequer funding, €1.25 billion to the Land Development Agency (LDA), and the €1.6 billion to the Housing Finance Agency (HFA).

To deliver on the Government’s aim of increasing housing supply, Minister Chambers has allocated just under €2.2 billion (an increase of €275 million on 2024), with the objective of delivering 10,000 new-build social homes (700 additional homes as set out in 2024), under the Social Housing Investment Programme (SHIP), Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF), and Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS).

Infrastructure and investment

In October 2024, Minister Chambers announced a first annual transfer 0.8 per cent of GDP into the Future Ireland Fund (FIF) which amounts to €4.05 billion. This built on the previous transfers in 2024 from the National Reserve Fund, with transfers of €2 billion to the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund (ICNF) and €4.3 billion to the FIF.

The Government has announced that a further €6 billion will be transferred into the FIF and the ICNF, bringing the total amount of funding to the two funds to €16 billion by the end of 2025.

NERI stated the creation of the two new investment funds (FIF and ICNF) were very welcome but warned “these funds do not ‘solve’

“I believe that Budget 2025 is one that has common good at its core.”

the looming fiscal squeeze. In the long run, government revenue as a share of output will have to increase”.

Minister Chambers announced that he would be allocating €3 billion for infrastructure spending, with €1 billion being dedicated to water infrastructure, which he states will allow for works to be carried out across the country on capital projects related to remedial action lists, connections for new housing, and addressing urban wastewater pressures.

To adhere to the Climate Action Plan’s target to increase the share of electricity generated from renewable sources up to 80 per cent by 2030. Chambers has allocated €759 million to facilitate an initial, direct equity injection to support capital spending on the further development of Ireland’s electricity grid infrastructure.

Taxes

Chambers forecasts his department’s tax revenue to amount to €105.7 billion, an increase of €13.6 billion on the State’s Spring forecast, which is mostly attributed to corporation tax receipts and the revenue for the Court of Justice of the EU judgement.

He has also instituted a personal income tax package of €1.6 billion in Budget 2025 which he describes will “support low and middle income earners”.

Contained within the package, the Government will increase the maintain tax credits, the Personal, Employee and Earned Income Credits by €125, increase the Standard Rate Cut Off Point by €2,000 to €44,000, with proportionate increases for married couples and civil partners and will reduce the USC rate from 4 per cent to 3 per cent.

However, this has received criticism from the main opposition party, Sinn Féin, with party leader Mary Lou McDonald TD and finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty TD outlining in the party’s alternative budget that it would abolish the USC rate on incomes up to €45,000 including removing it for incomes up to €30,000 in its first year in office if it enters government.

Minister for Finance Jack Chambers TD

Broad analysis

In his concluding remarks to the Oireachtas, Chambers stated: “I believe that Budget 2025 is one that has common good at its core. It allows us to ensure that we keep striving to provide better services and infrastructure for everyone, to build better communities and support social enterprise [and] to provide for those most in need.”

However, NERI warns that while the economy appears to be operating above potential, it does not need additional stimulus from an expansionary budget, instead indicating that a countercyclical budget “appears prudent”. Subsequently, NERI called for a cautious budget that invests sufficiently in the long-run components of sustainable productivity-based growth and protects lower income households, implying the need for taxes to increase in this Budget.

As indicated by the NERI, Ibec and IFAC, Ireland’s economy remains in a strong position, and this is the message each party in the coalition government will be keen to champion heading into the general election with a “strong labour force”. However, a closer look at the figures once again shows that the State has an overreliance on corporate tax receipts, and this leaves an underlying vulnerability for Ireland’s economy as well as undercutting the authority by the State’s decisionmakers.

The Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) has said that there is an over concentration with the State’s finances and states that 89 per cent of tax receipts are still forecasted to just come from three sources. The PBO states “These are inherently interdependent, posing significant sustainability risks over the long term.”

The PBO emphasises that while Budget 2025 tax measures are increasing take home pay for workers, they are conscious that the economy is at full capacity and that these tax measures may add to inflationary pressures. For clarity, the PBO are seeking further detail on the methodology for costing tax proposals, they state it would “enhance budgetary scrutiny”.

New roadmap unveiled to transform Fingal’s position as a tourism destination

Fingal County Council has launched an ambitious tourism strategy which it believes will be the blueprint for transforming the county into a beacon of tourism excellence that will make it a premier destination for both domestic and international visitors.

The new strategy is a product of extensive collaboration and thoughtful planning across local, regional, national, and international stakeholders. It focuses on leveraging the county’s strengths and presents a compelling vision and roadmap for tourism in the county to realise its full potential and deliver maximum sustainable, economic, and social benefit over the next five years.

A key region of Dublin, Fingal has many competitive advantages. These include an easily accessible location and a vast range of amenities and attractions which makes it ideally positioned to capitalise as tourism continues to grow across Ireland.

Tourism is one of Fingal’s most important economic drivers. The sector

plays a key role in Fingal’s rural and urban local economies and accounts for a significant amount of employment characterised by large numbers of SMEs, with 800 businesses providing accommodation and catering services. Guest accommodation supports an estimated 3,000 full-time job equivalents and the catering sector provides a further 2,000 jobs. Through Dublin Airport, Fingal also provides the primary national link between Ireland and international tourists and its proximity to the motorway and rail network makes it easily accessible to the domestic market.

Fingal’s strategy is to build on the county’s proven assets and strengths and lead with well-known products and experiences, clustered with those still developing.

The Mayor of Fingal, Brian McDonagh, says: “Fingal is blessed with an array of

The new Fingal Tourism Strategy will boost visitor numbers to coastal towns like Skerries.

natural wonders, rich heritage, and vibrant communities. From our stunning coastline to our charming villages, we offer a unique Irish experience that we are eager to share with the world. This new strategic framework will help increase opportunities, enhance the overall visitor experience, and help to strengthen our position as a must-see destination.”

Three primary asset themes have been identified in the strategy. They are:

• natural amenities and heritage;

• arts and culture; and

• recreation and leisure.

These will be further augmented by the supporting asset themes of hospitality, food and drink, and the festivals and events for which Fingal is already so well-known. These include Flavours of Fingal, Howth Maritime and Seafood Festival, Malahide Castle Concerts, and more recently, TradFest.

The Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, AnnMarie Farrelly, says: “We have consistently invested considerable resources in supporting tourism. That includes managing and developing a number of significant visitor attractions, festivals and events.

“This new strategy continues our commitment. It is a vision to strengthen Fingal’s status as a special tourism destination offering an array of options for natural amenities and heritage, local arts and culture, recreation, and leisure, with an emphasis on culinary delights, coastal relaxation, and outdoor adventure.”

The strategy also recognises the crucial role of sustainable tourism in preserving the essence of Fingal for future generations. The approach emphasises responsible practices, prioritising the conservation of the local environment, and the celebration of Fingal’s identity.

“What is interesting about Fingal as a tourist destination is that it is undiscovered and its potential is huge,” said John Quinlivan, Fingal County Council’s Director of Economic Enterprise Tourism and Cultural Development. “It is on the doorstep of Dublin city so it has that city break potential, but it has something different for the people who want to visit the Dublin area. We have got 88km of a coastline and we have got a real

countryside. Rural North Dublin is a very rural part of the country and even within Ireland that is little known.”

Key destinations in Fingal already include the likes of Ardgillan Castle and Gardens, Malahide Castle and Demesne, Newbridge House and Demesne, Skerries Mills, Casino Model Railway Museum, Shackleton Gardens, and the Seamus Ennis Arts Centre. These are some of the attractions which Fingal County Council had the vision and foresight to develop for residents and visitors alike.

Speaking at the launch of the Fingal Tourism Strategy, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD, said: “I am immensely proud that Fingal is home to so many heritage properties that continue to attract many visitors to our shores. This new strategy goes beyond simply promoting tourism; it is about fostering sustainable growth that respects our environment, celebrates Fingal’s culture, and empowers the many communities that make it a great place to visit.”

2024 is the first year of the strategy and has seen a focus on delivering the collaborative structures required within the county, as well as nationally and internationally, to drive success. To that end, the Council will lead the development of a comprehensive marketing and promotional plan which showcases what distinguishes Fingal as a unique tourism destination.

With long sandy beaches, rugged coastline, stunning heritage properties, ancient castles, majestic gardens, a wide range of arts and cultural venues offering a year-long programme of events, indoor and outdoor sport and leisure activities, combined with a thriving hospitality sector encompassing diverse culinary traditions, and local producers, there is truly something for everyone in Fingal.

Fingal County Council T: 01 890 5000 W: www.fingal.ie

Plan

of action

against potential

cyber emergencies

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has unveiled a whole-of-government emergency plan in the event of future cyber attacks.

The National Cyber Emergency Plan (NCEP), is described as a guidance document, meaning it has no binding obligations, and is a direct response to recent high profile cyber attacks in Ireland.

The plan defines a cyber emergency as any cyber incident which causes or threatens to cause:

• death or serious injury or damage to property, the environment or the economy, or significant incidents impacting two or more critical sectors; and

• which requires the activation of the National Emergency Coordination Group (NECG Cyber) to ensure an effective coordinated response for containment, mitigation, or recovery.

While most cybersecurity incidents are an ongoing challenge that can be managed without a significant societal or economic consequence, certain

incidents can pose a risk to economic and social activity.

The activities described in the plan rely upon three co-operation modes:

• Permanent mode: The normal course of business, during which situational awareness is maintained and incident preparedness activities are conducted.

• Warning mode: Activated when evidence indicates that there is a heightened risk of a ‘cyberemergency’ incident emerging in a specific sector or sectors, this involves communications with stakeholders across government and in the private sector as appropriate.

• Full activation mode: Activated if an incident occurs that meets the threshold of a national cyberemergency that requires the activation of the NECG.

The NCEP is designed to ensure stakeholders understand their roles and responsibilities during a cyber emergency and the means by which the Government’s approach to incidents is explained and communicated to the public.

Cybersecurity incidents are diverse by their nature e.g., a national cyber emergency could occur because of an incident affecting IT systems owned directly by government, those owned by private sector operators of critical infrastructure, or in systems owned by organisations which provide services to both the Government and private sector contractors.

As a result, there are a vast range of potential scenarios where the NCEP process may be initiated.

It is the NECG which coordinates support and advice from identified support departments in an ongoing emergency while also maintaining situational awareness of the incident.

The NCSC will be designated as the competent authority responsible for the management of largescale cybersecurity incidents and crisis.

During an emergency, the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications through the NCSC has overall responsibility for managing the government response with political oversight provided by the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications.

Lead government departments (LGDs) and relevant agencies, are responsible for managing the impacts of the cyber emergency for its assigned emergency types.

For example, a substantial incident cyber attack which has a “serious impact” on a medium-sized organisation or poses a considerable risk to a large organisation is dealt by the NCSC or law enforcement via remote support or on-site support by exception.

However, a national cyber emergency – the severest cyber attack, which causes sustained disruption of essential services or, affects national security, is responded to immediately with a coordinated government response and is escalated to the NECG.

During a national cyber emergency, the NCSC and those supporting them will:

• identify the scope, impacts and implications of the cybersecurity incident on Ireland, and work to contain incidents as they occur;

• analyse and share indicators of compromise and other technical details with the appropriate

stakeholders and peer organisations, nationally and internationally, e.g., relevant competent authorities;

• guide and support victim organisations and their response team during a cyber incident to enable them to remediate and resolve the incident;

• capture the technical and non-technical details of the incident and use that information to manage and communicate ongoing cybersecurity risks in the State;

• the NCSC Operations Team may request government departments, public sector bodies or operators of critical national infrastructure to take certain actions, e.g., isolate their network, preserve logs, in response to the incident; and

• for actual or suspected incidents with all-island implications, there will be bilateral coordination and communication between the NCSC-IE and NCSC-UK in the first instance. After the initial stages of an incident, there will be three-way communications between the NCSCs and the Northern Ireland Executive.

A cybersecurity incident is often a criminal act. Affected organisations should report incidents to An Garda Síochána (AGS) or other regulatory agencies or competent authorities as required under general or specific sector legislation.

The priority during any cyber emergency is the restoration of services critical to the State and ending the emergency.

AGS and the NCSC often share relevant information relating to incident response processes and it is likely that this will occur during any national cyber emergency.

An Garda Síochána has the primary responsibility for the investigation and subsequent prosecution of any criminal acts relating to the cyber emergency and are responsible for liaison with international policing organisations such as EUROPOL or INTERPOL.

In 2015, a White Paper on defence outlines the role of the Defence Forces in cybersecurity stating that “the primary focus of the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces will remain the protection of Defence networks… as in any emergency/crisis situation, once Defence systems are supported, the Department of Defence and Defence Forces will provide support to the NCSC team in so far as resources allow”.

issues eolas

Frequency of cross-border work increases

Better salaries and enhanced career prospects are driving an increase in the number of people crossing the border for work.

Undertaking the first comprehensive study of cross-border workers in Ireland, the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) has found that crossborder worker patterns have increased in frequency in both directions from 2011 to 2021, with most increased workers travelling from Northern Ireland to the Republic for improved salaries and career prospects.

Led by Seamus McGuinness, Adele Bergin, and Anne Devlin, the study estimates that the number of crossborder workers has increased from 12,740 to between 17,827 and 19,282 over the period 2011 to 2021; equating to a growth rate of between 40 and 51 per cent. Of this total, estimates include a north-to-south increase of between 67 and 90 per cent and a south-to-north increase of 14 per cent.

Due to the higher incidence of flexible working following the Covid-19 pandemic, and the impacts of Brexit, the ESRI published the study to measure the

scale of cross-border worker patterns, and develop an understanding of opportunities and barriers associated with cross-border employment.

The study identifies that cross-border worker flows can mitigate the negative impacts of the business cycle, stating: “Cross-border flows are important for alleviating skill shortages in the Republic and function as a mechanism for lessening the impacts during rises in unemployment in Northern Ireland.”

Wage distribution

The ESRI study calculates substantial wage differences, with north-to-south workers typically earning higher salaries than their south-to-north counterparts who incur a wage disadvantage of approximately 30 per cent relative to their counterparts. Female cross-border workers also earn approximately 30 per cent less than their male counterparts.

Over 30 per cent of north-to-south workers earn a salary of more than

€75,000 in contrast to 12 per cent for those travelling south-to-north. Additionally, approximately 40 per cent of north-to-south workers earn below €50,000 compared to 55 per cent for those travelling south-to-north.

The study also estimates that weekly earnings are 13 per cent higher in the Republic, with average weekly earnings €242 higher in the Republic, equating to an annual difference of €12,584 according to nominal data.

Education and tenure

Reflecting on the level of educational attainment, just under 80 per cent of workers hold third-level qualifications, with the rate slightly greater among south-to-north workers.

Exemplifying its high added value nature, cross-border employment is disproportionately concentrated within professional and managerial positions. These positions account for

Estimates of cross-border worker

Source: ESRI

approximately 70 per cent of north-to-south workers and 67 per cent of those travelling from south-to-north. In terms of contractual status, over 90 per cent of respondents are employees, with the remaining proportion self-employed.

Over 90 per cent of respondents are on permanent contracts and approximately 40 per cent are employed in the public sector – a figure that is over representative relative to the labour force in each jurisdiction. The study indicates that 27 per cent of all employees in Northern Ireland are employed in the public sector (NISRA, 2023) compared to 14 per cent in the Republic (IPA, 2022).

However, for those travelling south-to-north, employment is slightly more concentrated in the public sector, which is reflective of the greater public sector employment share in Northern Ireland, relative to the Republic.

52 per cent of respondents have travelled from south-tonorth for over 10 years whilst the comparable figure for north-south stands at 41 per cent. The numbers undertaking cross-border work for less than five years is approximately 10 per cent higher among north-to-south workers.

Impacts of Covid and Brexit

The study explores the impact of the pandemic and Brexit on the welfare of cross-border workers. Regarding the pandemic, approximately 12 per cent of workers travelling north-to-south believe that this impacted them negatively, with the corresponding figure for those travelling south-tonorth standing at 24 per cent.

The proportion of south-to-north workers who believe that Brexit has impacted them in a substantially negative way stood at 24 per cent compared to under 11 per cent for those travelling north-to-south for employment purposes.

Reasons for cross-border work

Prior to Covid-19, over 75 per cent of all cross-border workers either never or rarely engaged in remote working. Post-pandemic, 47 per cent of north-to-south cross-border workers do their jobs remotely at least once or twice a week, with the corresponding figure for south-to-north cross-border workers standing at 37 per cent; indicating a substantially lower take-up of remote working among those travelling from south-to-north.

Among those cross-border workers travelling for work purposes there is low usage of public transport, with 78 per cent of those travelling north-to-south using cars to do so. For those travelling south-to-north, car usage stood at over 90 per cent.

Approximately two-thirds of cross-border workers live within 20 miles from the border. Availability of a better salary and career prospects are primary factors motivating north-south workers, with two-thirds of workers pointing to higher earnings as a factor and over 40 per cent indicating that they believed that better career opportunities were open to them as a result of working in the Republic.

Barriers

Identified barriers to cross-border working include exchange rate risk, tax return requirements, accessing social welfare benefits, the cost of commuting, and difficulties accessing financial products such as mortgages. Concluding, the research provides strong evidence that these barriers were much more substantial for those travelling south to north, a situation worsened by the impacts of Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic. Data suggests 67 per cent of those living in the Republic and working in Northern Ireland reported facing barriers, compared to 47 per cent of those going in the other direction.

Vision of a shared future defined by Ireland’s youth

A universal north-south travel card, free access to health services, the end of religious patronage in schools, and raising the vacant home tax to 10 per cent are among the aspirations of Ireland’s first Shared Island Youth Forum.

Comprising of 80 young civic leaders from diverse backgrounds, all of whom were born after the Good Friday Agreement, the forum’s representatives were nominated by a wide range of community organisations north and south.

Having already met nine times in 2024 to deliberate and agree on a statement of their vision and values for the future of the island, the forum’s Vision and Values for a Shared Future on the island of Ireland set out aspirations on themes of sustainability, opportunity, wellbeing, culture and identity and equality.

Alongside high level and broad aspirations including that the Government should invest in renewable energy technologies and support infrastructure to facilitate the transition to carbon neutral transport networks, the forum also calls on the Government to establish “stronger north-south cooperation and pooling of resources between environment and energy departments”, as well as “more inclusive, all-island civic dialogue to inform climate action policy through existing channels and a new all-island forum”.

Taoioseach Simmon Harris TD, with members of the Shared Ireland Youth Forum.

The young leaders also indicate that environmental education be “seamlessly integrated” into education systems across the island to educated Ireland’s youth about the threat of climate change.

As part of their Vision of Opportunity, the leaders aspire for every person to have access to “free, public and inclusive education, equitable opportunities in employment, and safe, secure housing”.

The Youth Forum has advised the Government to invest in an all-island travel scheme and increased transport connectivity between existing rail and bus services.

The Youth Forum has suggested that an ease of travel across the island, supported by a universal north-south travel card that is compatible on all modes of public transport can help facilitate young people pursuing more opportunities on a cross border basis.

Included in those aspirations most likely to stoke debate are calls to join up the health services on the island, with resources shared “at every level” across the island, while provision is made for “conscientious objection” for healthcare workers.

Education

Additionally, the Youth Forum calls for a standardised and consistent provision of “inclusive and evidence-based relationship and sexuality education” in schools.

The leaders have emphasised the need for a greater understanding of Ireland’s shared history.

They have called for a reform of the history syllabus, north and south, which includes perspectives of nationalists, unionists and other traditions on the island.

The syllabus will also embolden underrepresented voices of women, migrants, the Traveller and Roma community and other minority groups.

As part of the Youth Forum’s Vision of Equality, the young leaders have called for the Government and the Northern Ireland Executive to educate and engage young people on politics from an early age in school and extend voting rights to over-16s and all residents.

Other reforms proposed in the education sector include the removal of religious patronage and end of selective schools, transferring all grammar schools to high schools.

Reform of the school curricula and teacher training for greater consistency has been proposed, as has “equality of access for education systems north/south”, particularly aimed at the UCAS and CAO systems.

On housing, the forum have stated that “every person has the right to affordable, safe and secure housing”.

To ensure that more people have access to a secure and affordable house, they have suggested that the Government raise the vacant home tax to a minimum of 10 per cent, with the proceeds allocated towards homelessness services.

For social housing, the Youth Forum statements suggest that the Government and Northern Ireland Executive ease planning requirements for modular housing, increase supply and ease access to social housing across the island.

The opinions and aspirations have been praised by the leadership of the Irish Government.

Speaking at Dublin Castle, in front of over 250 civic representatives from across the island, Taoiseach Simon Harris TD, said that the forum will provide a future where “no matter what, all communities feel accepted and at home”.

“The Youth Forum’s work will inform and inspire how we develop the Shared Island Initiative and how all… work for a shared, reconciled society on this island,” he says.

“There is an opportunity now to seize the moment and harness the hope, energy and ambition that is reflected in the Youth Forum’s vision, values and actions.”

Harris paid tribute to the forum members for participating, as well as the National Youth Council and Youth Action Northern Ireland for their continued support with the Shared Island Unit.

The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheál Martin TD, welcomed the youth forum’s vision for a shared future.

“The forum’s statement is a testament to the hopes, dedication and passion of the members and of their generation, to drive forward with building a shared, reconciled future for all communities on the island of Ireland, underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement.”

Minister of State Dara Calleary TD: ‘State’s national AI strategy to be reviewed’

Trade

Promotion, Digital Transformation and Company, Dara Calleary TD announced that the State’s national AI strategy, AI: Here for Good, will be reviewed.

“The advances in AI technology in the two years that I have been Digital Minister have accelerated policy developments,” Calleary says, emphasising the influence of these advances on European regulations, intensified competition, the changed aspect of our daily lives. “I am determined that these changes to our lives must be for the good,” he adds.

Ireland’s first National AI Strategy was published in 2021 with the stated intention of leveraging AI for societal and economic good, establishing an enabling environment for AI, and building public trust. However, given the pace of technological advances, this context has changed.

“Over the coming weeks, I will launch a refresh of Ireland’s national AI strategy to take account of the very significant developments in AI technology and in regulation since the original national strategy was published.”

Minister of

State for Trade Promotion, Digital Transformation and Company, Dara Calleary TD

“In 2024, we are clearly very much in a new phase. Over the coming weeks, I will launch a refresh of Ireland’s national AI strategy to take account of the very significant developments in AI technology and in regulation since the original national strategy was published.

“The refresh builds on the solid foundations in place, continuing to emphasise the importance of trustworthy, person-centred AI development and use, while positioning Ireland as a leader in seizing AI’s economic and societal benefits. To achieve these goals, the full engagement and participation of all parts of the public sector is absolutely crucial,” he asserts.

Suggesting that “AI hold enormous promise for the delivery of better public services”, Calleary praises the “strong ambition across the public service to harness trustworthy AI” as an element of public sector digital transformation.

“Our strategic approach is to create the framework and the conditions for successful AI adoption in skills, guidelines, procurement frameworks, sharing best practice, and building awareness, which in turn will equip public service bodies with the tools they need to maximise their use of AI,” he says.

The Minister of State highlights the role of the four European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs) in Dublin, Mullingar, Sligo, and Cork in supporting public sector digital transformation and upskilling “at no cost to your organisation”.

“Also, completely free of charge and funded by the European Union through Enterprise Ireland, you can access digital maturity assessments, skills and training, test-before-invest services, and other supports,” he elaborates.

Addressing the public service specifically, the Minister of State pays tribute to those who are making “a positive and ambitious vision for Ireland”. “With your contributions, I have no doubt that Ireland as a nation will reap the many benefits of the AI transformation.”

Insisting that Ireland’s AI opportunity is not a hypothetical proposition to be explored at an undefined point of time in the future, Calleary stresses the need for immediate action.

“The opportunity is real, and it is now. But we need to act to grasp this opportunity... I encourage all leaders, managers, learners, and workers to seize on the supports and the opportunities that are available to embrace AI technology,” he concludes.

The economic risk of rising sea levels

A rise in sea level of 0.56 metres by 2050 could cost the State around €2 billion per year, with projected costs rising to €7 billion per year by 2100, research by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) has stated.

In a report, Climate change impacts and associated economic costs in Ireland, published in September 2024, the ESRI warns that, under a moderate warming scenario with a global sea level rise of 0.56 metres by 2050, the annual cost to the State is projected to be around €2 billion, escalating to €7 billion by 2100.

The study highlights that the damage costs are heavily influenced by population density and capital investments in coastal regions. The economic burden from storm surges and capital stock damage far exceeds that from land inundation and wetland loss.

Without additional adaptation measures, the severity of these impacts will increase. However, strategic adaptation measures, such as strengthening coastal defences, could significantly reduce these costs.

River flooding

River flooding is another crucial challenge, with the frequency and severity of floods expected to rise due to increased precipitation under climate change.

The Global Flood Risks with Image Scenarios (GLOFRIS) model, which assesses flood risk by integrating climate projections and socioeconomic factors, projects that under a no-adaptation scenario, the expected annual damage could reach €95 million by 2070.

However, with optimal adaptation strategies such as improved flood protection measures, the researchers state that these damages could be halved, underscoring the importance of proactively investing in flood defences, which can yield substantial economic benefits by reducing long-term flood risks.

Labour productivity

issues eolas

Rising temperatures and increased humidity are projected to have a direct impact on labour productivity, particularly in sectors that involve outdoor work, such as agriculture and construction. Even though Ireland’s temperatures remain below the global threshold for heat stress, the study notes a decline in productivity as temperatures increase.

This loss in productivity can result in a reduction in overall economic output. Given the importance of labour-intensive industries in Ireland, mitigating these productivity losses through adaptation strategies like adjusting working hours or improving workplace conditions is critical for maintaining economic stability.

Agriculture

While many impacts of climate change are negative, the researchers state their belief that the agricultural sector in Ireland may experience mixed effects. The paper reports that higher atmospheric CO2 concentrations and milder winters could improve the yield of certain crops such as barley and wheat, and boost grass production, which indirectly benefits livestock farming.

However, the analysis cautions that these positive effects could be offset by other challenges, including more frequent extreme weather events, pests, and diseases. The impact on agriculture underlines the complexity of climate change, where certain sectors might experience temporary benefits, but these could be undermined by broader, more disruptive effects.

Human health

Higher temperatures are also projected to have significant impacts on public health in Ireland. As temperatures rise, the frequency of heatwaves will increase, leading to more emergency hospital admissions.

The study shows that when maximum weekly temperatures reach 22°C to 25°C, emergency hospital admissions will rise by 4.7 cases per 100,000 people. This increase places additional pressure on the healthcare system and adds to the overall economic burden of climate change.

Recommendations

Underscoring the urgent need for Ireland to adopt a multi-faceted approach to adaptation, the ESRI calls for proactive investment in climate resilience, such as improved flood defences and coastal management, essential to mitigate the most severe impacts of climate change.

Additionally, while certain sectors like agriculture may experience short-term benefits, the broader economic risks posed by heat stress, flooding, and sea level rise, the ESRI asserts, require a cohesive, national response.

The publication of the ESRI report was swiftly followed by the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) State of the Environment Report, which warns that measures taking place under the aegis of the Climate Action Plan are not sufficient to meet the State’s emissions reductions targets.

EPA Director General Laura Burke says: “We are taking positive actions across multiple fronts, but they are not keeping pace with the growing pressures, and our environment is being squeezed. We need to make a fundamental shift.”

General election 2024

The Government has confirmed that a general election will take place before the new year. Although the precise date has not been confirmed, 29 November 2024 is mooted as the mostly likely date that polls will open.

Taoiseach Simon Harris TD and Tánaiste Micheál Martin TD have both commented that a general election is set to take place prior to Christmas 2024, while Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman TD has said that he expects the election to take place on 29 November.

While the precise date of the election remains to be confirmed, we already have

a fair idea of what to expect during this campaign, as well as some of the unique dynamics which will make election 2024 the most fascinating in the history of the State.

Campaign goals

Three parties will be aiming to win this election, and all three will have reason to

believe that they stand a chance of leading the next government.

Fine Gael, touting its ‘new energy’ under Taoiseach Simon Harris TD, is rising in polls, giving it a chance of an election victory having finished third in 2020, achieving its worst share of the popular vote since 1948 under Leo Varadkar TD’s leadership. Harris has shown himself to

Credit: Merrion Street and Sinn Féin

be highly effective at managing the media, which has seen Fine Gael lead the polls since his assumption of the party leadership earlier this year.

Harris’ goal will be a straightforward one, continue the momentum that he has generated since he took over the party leadership and lead Fine Gael into an unprecedented fourth term of government. If successful, Fine Gael would be the first party since Fianna Fáil in 1969 to win a fourth consecutive term in government. However, in spite of Harris’ successful start, it is far from a safe bet that Fine Gael will be the largest party, and almost certainly impossible for the party to win a majority, something which last happened in 1977 when Jack Lynch led Fianna Fáil to an election landslide with 50.6 per cent of the vote.

Although Micheál Martin has led Fianna Fáil to its three worst general election results in the party’s history, he is arguably the party’s best asset, standing as the most popular political leader in the State. Leading the party into a fourth general election, Martin has matched a feat only achieved by Charlie Haughey and Éamon de Valera.

How the party will distinguish itself against its coalition partners is not clear, but it is plausible that Fianna Fáil returns to its roots of arguing that it is ‘better at governing’ than Fine Gael, with Darragh O’Brien having made the case earlier this year at the Fianna Fáil ard fheis that his party has ‘made a difference’ since it returned to government in 2020 after nine years formally on opposition benches.

The main opposition party, Sinn Féin, has come through a bruising period of underperformance in the local and European elections, as well as a number of scandals involving key figures in the party, which has resulted in the party falling to third in some opinion polls, having consistently led in the polls since election 2020 until earlier this year.

The key to turning the tide for Sinn Féin will be bringing housing back to the top of the political agenda, with the party having released a number of key housing policy documents, centred on increasing supply and affordability.

The other question surrounds who props up the larger parties in government after the next election. While it is plausible that

Constitutional and legislative conventions

Article 16.6: Ceann Comhairle is automatically returned without being up in the general election. His/her constituency elects one less seat than would otherwise be the case. For example, the current Ceann Comhairle, Seán Ó Fearghaíl TD, will be automatically returned as a TD in Kildare South, meaning that only three seats in this four-seat constituency will be up for election.

Article 16.3.2°: A general election must take place within 30 days of the dissolution of the Dáil.

Article 18.8: An election for Seanad Éireann must be held within 90 days of the disillusion of the Dáil.

Electoral Act 1992: The writ of election must be moved upon the dissolution of the Dáil. The general election must be held either 18 or 25 days after the writs have dropped.

Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil could win a majority without need for outside support, the possibility of an increase in support for the Social Democrats or Labour on the left, along with the possibility of Independent Ireland on the right or independent candidates winning seats in large numbers, means that what happens among the smaller parties will be almost more important than any other factors in determining the ideological motivations of the next government.

This will also be dependent on the fate of the Green party, which will almost certainly lose seats in the election. However, if the Greens can match their local election performance, that may be enough to give the party up to six seats in the next Dáil, which could prove vital in prospective coalition negotiations.

The 34th Dáil

The next Dáil – the 34th since it began sitting – will be the largest in the history of the State, following the review into constituency boundaries by An Coimisiún Toghcháin, with 174 TDs to be elected to the next Dáil. The Commission’s recommendations expanded the number of constituencies with three TDs, which is likely to produce positive results for the

larger parties, with smaller parties’ TDs often relying on vote transfers in larger constituencies.

However, if the nine political parties elected in 2020 – plus the newly formed Independent Ireland – maintain their presence in the Dáil, the 34th Dáil will also have the highest number of political parties in the history of the Houses of the Oireachtas.

This campaign will be fiercely contested, with Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil both facing the complicated tasks of pipping each other to seats in order to beat heir coalition partners, while weaving the web of ensuring that their parties can claim the credit for the Government’s popular measures, while shifting the blame for the Government’s unpopular measures to their coalition partners.

Sinn Féin will be determined to have a similar election to 2020, in which the party came back from poor local and European election results just months prior to winning the popular vote in the general election.

Northern economy at a ‘disadvantage’ in attracting multinational activity

Despite similar growth rates, a consistent 25 per cent gap in economic activity exists between both economies on the island says Department of Finance.

The identification of the large gap between GNI* per capita in the Republic and GDP per capita for the North is included in analysis carried out by the Department of Finance to explore the similarities and differences in economic structures between north and south.

Other key findings include a large qualification and higher education gap, higher comparative public spending in Ireland on health, education, and housing, as well as a lower labour force participation rate in Northern Ireland.

The analysis was carried out in the context of the Government’s Shared Island Fund’s commitment to at least €1 billion up to 2030 of cross-border investment, and seeks to examine the similarities and differences in economic structures in Ireland and Northern Ireland, as well as cross-border flows of trade, tourism, and commuting patterns.

The Republic’s GDP figure is recognisably distorted due to the inclusion of multinational activity and therefore often not used for

comparison. Instead adjusted gross national income (GNI*) is the preferred indicator of the performance of Ireland’s domestic economy. When scaled by population for comparability, the Republic’s economic activity is estimated to be some 25 per cent greater than that of Northern Ireland.

This growth is underpinned by evident differences in the levels of postfinancial crash growth. Between 2007 and 2021, Gross Value Added (GVA) per worker had barely increased in Northern Ireland when inflation is taken into consideration, whereas the Republic has witnessed accelerated growth since 2015. A “growing gap in the performance levels of the two economies, with Ireland increasingly outperforming Northern Ireland”, highlighted by GVA comparison is not as evident when multinational data is excluded in the Republic. However, productivity is still higher in Ireland relative to Northern Ireland using this measure.

Another significant difference in both economies relates to trends in the labour market. Northern Ireland and the

Republic display a similar share of the total working-age population who were either in employment or actively seeking employment until the Covid-19 pandemic broke. The Republic’s labour force participation is tracked as having dropped briefly before rebounding strongly and rising to levels similar to pre-Celtic Tiger highs in 2008. In contrast, the North’s labour force participation was not hit as hard (aided by the UK Government’s furlough scheme and higher levels of public sector employment), but has not experienced the same recent increase in participation.

“This has resulted in a reasonably substantial gap in labour force participation opening since 2021,” the report states. Further analysis of this gap suggests that the North has a higher prevalence of disability and limiting health conditions amongst the population.

Focusing specifically on skills, the North has a much greater proportion of its population with no qualifications, a characteristic particularly evident in the oldest age category.

Figure 1: Comparison of GDP/GNI* in Ireland and Northern Ireland

Comparison

Source: Department of Finance

B: Comparison of change in economic activity indicators

“Across the different age categories, Northern Ireland consistently has a higher proportion of its population than Ireland for whom finishing secondary school is the highest level of their educational achievement. The picture is the reverse when it comes to third level education with a consistently greater proportion of the working age Irish population achieving this level of education compared with their Northern Irish peers.”

Fiscal balance

Acknowledging the very different public finance structures in the two economies, the Department of Finance analysis surmises that the Republic’s income tax system is “more progressive”, ensuring that individuals on lower incomes take home more of their pre-tax income than those in the North, with the reverse occurring for those on higher incomes.

The North’s per-person public spending is higher than the Republic’s on social welfare, however, spending per person in the Republic is higher in the key areas of health, education, and housing.

Trade

Interestingly, in assessing the openness of both economies by comparing trade flows, the report estimates the North is about half as open as the Republic. The Republic’s trade (exports plus imports) is equivalent to twice the country’s total GDP, whereas, in the North, external sales and purchases (including to Great Britain) are similar to total GDP. Use of a stricter definition of international trade –excluding trade flows with Great Britain –sees the North’s openness further halved.

Trade flows from the North to the Republic are consistently higher than the opposite direction, most likely driven by Ireland’s connectedness to further markets for export and also because the Republic’s multinationals are a crucial driver. Trade flows between the two economies had displayed moderate growth between 2011 to 2020, but have risen sharply by some 30 per cent postBrexit. Cross-border trade is broadly dispersed across sectors, however, both economies share a similarity in their international exports, with the chemicals and pharmaceuticals sector and the machinery and electrical equipment sector, dominating.

Alongside trade flows, cross-border connections in terms of commuter flows and household visits are also telling. Higher number of workers travel from the North to the Republic for work, than vice versa, driven by greater labour market opportunities and higher wages in the South.

Concluding, the Department’s report highlights that the greatest divergence in aggregate economic performance is defined by the inclusion of the large multinational sector in the Republic.

“Attractiveness to multinational activity is an area where Northern Ireland is at a disadvantage relative to Ireland with lower levels of educational attainment amongst the working age population alongside a higher tax rate on corporate profits,” it states.

However, the report acknowledges that the special trade status of Northern Ireland under the Protocol to the Withdrawal Agreement has had an impact on the expansion of cross-border trade, and suggests potential in this area for further development of linkages to increase economic outcomes on both sides of the border.

Environment Ireland 2024 issues eolas

Environment Ireland 2024 took place in Croke Park, Dublin on Thursday 17 October. The conference brought together over 250 attendees from across Ireland and further afield to highlight the pressing issues facing the environment. Attendees at the conference heard from speakers throughout the day focusing on environmental policy, sustainability and ESG, climate, circular economy and resource management, biodiversity, water, and planning and the environment.

The top line up of expert speakers, both local and visiting, included Minister of State with responsibility for Communications and Circular Economy, Ossian Smyth TD; Aurel Ciobanu-Dordea, European Commission; Francesca Racioppi, World Health Organization European Centre for Environment and Health; Chris Hewitt, World Meteorological Organization; and Christopher Hammond, UK100.

Speakers: Ciarán Galway, Environment Ireland; Imelda Hurley, Coillte; Francesca Racioppi, World Health Organization European Centre for Environment and Health; Ossian Smyth TD, Minister of State with responsibility for Communications and Circular Economy; Julie Thompson, Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs; Kevin O’Sullivan, The Irish Times and Aurel Ciobanu-Dordea, European Commission.

John Martin, RSPB NI asks the panel a question.

Bridgette Brew, ACT and Tom Lindsay, Accelerating Action.

Seán Flynn and Michelle McCarthy, Dawn Meats Group.

Louise MacAvin and Gillian Arigho, SOLAS speak with an attendee at the SOLAS exhibition stand.

Sarah-Jane Burns and Niamh Kennedy, National Transport Authority.

THANKS TO THE ENVIRONMENT IRELAND 2024 CONFERENCE PARTNERS

Speakers: Ciarán Galway, Environment Ireland; Lorna McAdoo, Version 1; Kevin O’Sullivan, The Irish Times; Danielle Conaghan, Arthur Cox; Venkatesh Kannan, Irish Centre of High-End Computing (ICHEC); Geoff Dooley, Antaris Consulting and David McGee, PwC.

Sorcha Kavanagh, Repak with Adam Boland and Claire Downey, The Rediscovery Centre.

Sarah Blennerhassett, 20Fifty Partners speaks with an attendee at the 20Fifty Partners exhibition stand.

Amaia Fuentes McDonnell and Sinead Whyte, Arup with Eva Morrissey, Arthur Cox.

Colette Kelly, The Office of Public Works and Maria Fitzpatrick, Consulting with Nature.

We must produce more energy here in Ireland

In 2023, 83 per cent of Ireland’s energy requirement was met by fossil fuels, most of this is in the form of imported oil from the UK, the USA, and Azerbaijan as well as imported natural gas from the UK and Norway.

This energy comes at a high cost; we spend about €1 million an hour on energy in Ireland.

Our energy prices are also highly volatile and influenced by global geopolitics, regional weather, and wars. All of these happen beyond our borders and are beyond the control of the Government.

As we look to the future, the energy landscape on which Ireland relies so heavily is looking increasingly more fragile, less secure, and more volatile.

To protect our economy against this volatility, we must produce more energy here in Ireland.

While we use huge amounts of fossil fuels in Ireland, we do not have a rich fossil fuel resource.

Over the past 40 years, we have drilled 161 wells in Irish offshore waters looking for oil and gas; there have been four commercial gas discoveries and no commercial discoveries of oil.

While we do not have commercially available fuel under the ground, we have it in abundance over the ground in terms

Despite

progress made on renewable electricity, mainly from wind power, Ireland remains highly dependent on imported fossil fuels to satisfy our needs for heating our homes, fuelling our cars and trucks, and

powering our homes, writes Paul Deane, senior lecturer in clean energy futures at MaREI.

of wind and solar which can be used to make electricity, and this electricity can also be used to replace the traditional uses of oil and gas for transport and heating.

But the move away from fossil fuels will take both time (at least two decades) and significant investment.

It is not correct to think that a transition away from fossil fuels will be cheap or easy. It will not, but if managed correctly it can be affordable and worthwhile.

Investment is required to build infrastructure like bus and cycle lanes and energy saving projects such as insulating homes and offices.

Investment is also required to generate more electricity and move this electricity around the country through a bigger electricity network to replace the oil trucks that today move oil and gas pipelines that today move gas.

The context for this investment is important because it is the additional cost over and above what we are spending already that matters.

Maintaining our current fossil fuel reliance costs about €10 billion per annum.

If this money is redirected to clean energy, then the additional investment required to move away from fossil fuels is between 1

per cent and 2 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) per year.

While this is significant, it is manageable and does not consider worthwhile benefits such as more employment, better health from less pollution, or social benefits from healthier transport options.

While such a transition is possible with existing technologies and know-how today, it is important to be honest about the challenges.

Increased energy production in Ireland, means more energy infrastructure in terms of wind farms, solar farms, and electricity pylons to move power around.

This infrastructure will be considered ugly and unwelcome in many places and it will not always be easy to deliver but it is necessary for delivering more secure energy.

The challenge for Ireland is to work with communities to deliver infrastructure in an acceptable and agile manner.

In a world that is more geopolitically fragile and less energy secure, our reliance on fossil fuel leaves Ireland exposed to the actions of other nations and when we consider the abundant secure alternatives we have in Ireland, this reliance is starting to look increasingly reckless.

Digital connectivity report

Minister of State Ossian Smyth TD: Enhancing our digital connectivity to global networks

Ireland is a strong supporter of the European Union’s plans to improve telecommunications links between EU countries and with other regions, writes Minister of State Ossian Smyth.

As a high-tech country on the western edge of Europe, Ireland stands to both contribute to and benefit from these improvements.

Our National Development Plan (2021-2030) and Harnessing Digital: The Digital Ireland Framework stress the need for strong, secure, and reliable connections to global networks. Ireland’s Digital Connectivity Strategy highlights the importance of ensuring our international connections are reliable and capable of handling future

“The

EU wants to improve its undersea cable infrastructure to reduce dependence on non-EU entities.”

Minister of State with responsibility for Communications and Circular Economy at the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, Ossian Smyth TD

needs. When Ireland signed the Declaration on European Data Gateways, we joined other EU countries in committing to strengthen digital links between Europe and regions like Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Ireland currently has 14 undersea cables connecting us to the global network, with four links to North America, one to Iceland, and the rest to the UK. Since the UK left the EU, we no longer have a direct connection to other EU countries, which the Government sees as a priority issue. Building more routes can make our system more robust and less vulnerable to disruptions.

A future challenge will be ensuring we have enough capacity to meet the growing demand for internet services. The rise in digital activities like streaming and new technologies means we need more capacity. Building these undersea cables takes years, so investments must be made well in advance.

The EU wants to improve its undersea cable infrastructure to reduce dependence on non-EU entities. To this end, it recommends ensuring that each cable route has at least two cables as a backup. The EU has also encouraged speeding up the approval process for new cable projects.

The Irish Government has been working to encourage investment in

both national and international subsea telecommunications. Three Irish-supported projects were recently selected to receive €36 million in EU grant funding. These projects will strengthen Ireland’s connections to northern and southern Europe and explore better connectivity for Ireland’s islands.

Despite these positive developments, investors face challenges such as costs, planning processes, and supply chain issues. The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications has reviewed the state of Ireland’s international telecommunications connections and proposed ways to overcome these challenges. Feedback from a public consultation earlier in 2024 will help inform government decisions on how to proceed.

Ireland’s location makes it an ideal hub for connecting North America, Europe, and even the Far East, with links that could extend to Africa and Latin America. This positioning gives Ireland an excellent opportunity to improve global connectivity, benefiting Ireland and the countries it connects with.

Building a strong, secure, and reliable telecommunications network is critical for Ireland’s future. By improving our connections, we will be well-positioned to thrive in the digital age, ensuring economic growth and social benefits for years to come.

How Ireland can capitalise on its connected future and lead on AI

eolas Magazine sits down with Irish-American entrepreneur and Chairman of National Broadband Ireland (NBI), David McCourt, to find out about the progress in NBI’s rollout and the opportunities he sees ahead in Ireland’s connected future.

Q. The Minister of State Ossian Smyth TD recently pointed to the National Broadband Plan’s success, claiming it was on track to come in on schedule, on budget and deliver greater benefits than originally anticipated. How is the rollout going in your eyes?

A. The Minister is certainly correct –NBI is on schedule, on budget, and our connections surpass not only the original targets but also all other international comparisons. A huge amount of credit must go to the Government and the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, in particular.

At NBI, we have over 2,000 talented men and women working tirelessly to complete the rollout as fast and effectively as possible. Today, the project is more than 50 per cent complete with approximately

475,000 premises built or underconstruction, over 300,000 premises available to order high-speed broadband on the NBI network and approximately 100,000 homes, farms and businesses connected.

This is truly a transformative infrastructure that brings economic, social, and environmental benefits to communities across Ireland, helping to ensure that no one is left behind in the digital age. Ultimately, NBI will serve over 1.1 million people, stimulating an exciting future not just for rural Ireland but for Ireland INC.

Q. How do you think Ireland’s NBP is viewed by the rest of the world?

A. That is a great question and I think the answer is that it is widely recognised as a blueprint for other ambitious nations to follow. In 2023, Oxford University published a study

which forensically analysed more than 16,000 ‘mega’ infrastructure projects from 20 plus different fields in 136 countries and found that 99.5 per cent are delayed, over budget and fail to achieve their original policy objectives.

Ireland’s National Broadband Plan sits in the elite 0.5 per cent of global mega projects for being on schedule, on budget, and delivering against the original policy objectives, which is a fact that Ireland can be extremely proud about.

NBI recently hosted representatives from 26 other European nations as part of the European Broadband Competence Offices (BCO) Network, with each delegate grasping the opportunity to share insights and learn from NBI’s experiences.

This is not just about making internet browsing incrementally faster or bringing Netflix to rural areas; it is about fundamentally closing the digital divide that exists in every European country. The stakes are high. Those with a clear strategy have the opportunity to seize economic, social and environmental benefits that will be the envy of every other nation.

Q. We know you are a big advocate for Ireland on the global stage and you have campaigned for the role Ireland could play in writing global AI rules. Tell us about that.

A. Well firstly, artificial intelligence (AI) is the most urgent technological challenge of our times, and its development and adoption are going to accelerate as a result of access to high speed connectivity becoming ubiquitous. We have never seen potential like it. But we must move quickly to meaningfully frame it in a way that serves our democracy, our society and our vision of humanity.

I believe Ireland is incredibly well placed to lead in shaping the future of this technology. We have a track-record of pioneering policy decisions, we’re soon to be one of the most connected countries in Europe, and we are 16 of the top 20 global tech companies with a major office or HQ here (including OpenAI).

David McCourt, National Broadband Ireland (NBI).

Q. You recently hosted a series of events at Dalkey Book Festival to shed light on some of these issues. What has the reception been?

A. These sessions are part of a worldwide series I am hosting with Columbia University and the reception in Ireland has been phenomenal. We have such a rich talent pool of thought leaders and the respect Ireland holds internationally is critical to driving meaningful change.

Most importantly, my focus is on looking at the positive effects of AI as opposed to the usual stories of gloom and doom. That is not to say that guardrails are not important – they are – but I think Ireland has an opportunity to lead on the opportunities.

I believe it is a civilisation-defining topic, and that is why I am tackling this from multiple angles. In addition to the AI event series, we are shooting a documentary to shine a light on ordinary people doing extraordinary things with AI; I recently accepted an adjunct professorship at UCD to help support the school’s work in AI; and of course, at NBI we are laying the foundations for the connectivity that will give rise to all these new advances in technology. We are living through incredibly exciting times, and you have to stay alert to keep up.

Q. What do you think we should be immediately focused on to make sure advances in AI drive positive outcomes?

A. First, we need a more explicitly stated understanding of what these groups of new technologies, that for simplicity’s sake I am calling AI, can accomplish. Second, we need to continue to work collaboratively internationally on sensible, enforceable regulations.

This may not come from the places it did in the past,

such as the US and UK. The political systems of those countries appear to be broken, temporarily at least.

While we wait for them to regenerate and repair themselves, China is relentlessly moving forward. This is a major challenge for the western world. Our escalation of protectionism, tariffs and other trade walls will not really substitute for actual leadership on shaping global standards in areas such as AI.

This is where we in Ireland, in conjunction with our close-working allies, come in. We need global thought leadership around this new world that we are all fast approaching.

The only solution I can see is for small countries like Ireland to take a leadership position and drag the big ones with them.

Visit www.nbi.ie to check whether your home is included in the National Broadband Plan and register to receive Eircode specific updates on the rollout.

Ireland’s digital infrastructure continues to expand

The Digital Framework 2023 Progress Report

shows that Ireland maintained its status as a digital leader, with a 98 per cent take-up of mobile broadband well in excess of the EU’s 87 per cent average.

Progress towards Ireland’s national and EU-level connectivity targets through the implementation of the Digital Connectivity Strategy is on track. The delivery of fibre-tohome broadband is making strong progress, with 70 per cent of premises in commercial areas now upgraded, and over 600,000 premises now with full fibre subscriptions, as reported by ComReg.

According to DESI 2023, Ireland retained its leading position on mobile broadband take-up (98 per cent versus an EU average of 87 per cent), and improvements can be seen across connectivity indicators, including 5G spectrum.

In rural areas, the report outlines that construction is complete or underway across “all remote areas” under the €2.7 billion National Broadband Plan.

“More than 200,000 premises have now been passed with full fibre, and there are over 60,000 subscriptions. Of the €2.7 billion, €348 million of State funding was approved in Budget 2024 to continue expanding to over 600,000 rural premises,” the report says.

The report further says that broadband connection points are now in place at just under 300 locations across all counties. Under this programme, designated community centres, GAA and other public buildings provide free high-speed WiFi to the public, with many operating as digital hubs.

“The extension of high-speed broadband infrastructure to all primary schools in rural areas, including islands, is now complete under the National Broadband Plan,” the report states.

In 2023, a Digital Connectivity Office was established to oversee the delivery of Ireland’s digital connectivity targets including oversight of the National Broadband Plan contract with National Broadband Ireland. The office is also carrying out a significant review of Ireland’s international interconnectivity capacity to ensure future policy and demand needs are met over the coming decades.

The report states that work is underway to establish a universal service standard for broadband and voice services; this will ensure that all citizens are entitled to adequate broadband and voice services at an affordable price.

The new Maritime Area Planning legislative regime established a planning and consenting regime for the subsea telecommunications cable sector; the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA) was established in July 2023, and the development of the Maritime Area Consenting (MAC) regime that will apply to the sector is underway.

Harnessing Digital: In numbers

• €85 million Digital Transition Fund has helped nearly 300 businesses.

• 4 new European Digital Innovation Hubs operational: CeADAR (AI innovation hub); FactoryxChange; DATA2SUSTAIN; and ENTIRE.

• €2.7 billion National Broadband Plan.

• 200,000+ premises passed with full fibre broadband.

• €10 million committed to a national Quantum Communications Infrastructure network.

• 2.3 million verified MyGovID accounts.

• 2 additional Commissioners for the Data Protection Commission.

• €27.9 million for the DPC under Budget 2024.

• Broadband Connection Points now in place at nearly 300 locations.

Expansion of Ireland’s digital infrastructure is described in the report as a key objective of various government policies. The National Broadband Plan (NBP), valued at €2.7 billion, is a cornerstone initiative aimed at expanding full-fibre broadband across the country.

Gigabit and 5G connectivity are also central to the Harnessing Digital strategy, with Ireland maintaining a leading position in mobile broadband uptake at 98 per cent. The rollout of fibre-to-home technology is progressing well, with 70 per cent of premises in commercial areas now upgraded. These developments are not only vital for business innovation but also for enhancing the quality of life for Irish citizens, enabling remote work, telemedicine, and other digital services.

The State’s progress in enhancing international connectivity, through initiatives such as the review of interconnectivity capacity, positions the nation as a critical hub for global digital traffic. The review states that the Government aims to anticipate future demand, ensuring that the State can meet global business requirements and data flow.

Speaking upon publication of the report, Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment with responsibility for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation, Dara Calleary TD, says: “On the wider digital agenda, our engagement with stakeholders, including industry and regulators, continues to be an important part of our approach.”

Fexco: Enhancing public sector transformation through advisory excellence

John Swann has been appointed as Head of Fexco Advisory Services, which aims to enhance public sector transformation through advisory excellence.

The public sector faces complex challenges as the Government pushes towards greater digitalisation and operational efficiency, from aligning with national policies to implementing transformative technology projects.

To reflect this, Fexco’s newly expanded Advisory Services will now be led by John Swann, who joined the company in November 2024.

He brings an impressive track record in

programme management and advisory roles, particularly in technology and innovation, across both public and private sectors.

Martin Ryan, Fexco’s Managing Director of Managed and Advisory Services, commented: “With an extensive history of working across large government departments and major international corporates, John brings significant expertise in solving real business challenges, a skill set well aligned with Fexco’s focus on practical, operationaldriven advice to deliver real outcomes.”

Swann’s experience spans the UK, Ireland, and the European Union, giving

him a deep understanding of the regulatory environments and operational challenges many public sector organisations must navigate.

In previous roles, Swann led strategic initiatives for multinational companies and state agencies. This involved managing large-scale transformations, focused on the intersection of technology, innovation, and regulatory compliance. This resonates deeply with the Irish Government’s objectives in modernising public services. His knowledge of regulations such as GDPR and post-Brexit compliance shapes business and public service operations, providing a valuable foundation for supporting Irish Government departments as they continue their digital transformation journey.

Swann’s appointment signals Fexco’s commitment to delivering tailored advisory solutions that draw from realworld experience rather than relying solely on theoretical consultancy models. His focus on technology and innovation is timely for the public sector, which increasingly requires robust digital solutions to deliver services efficiently and securely.

Fexco Advisory Services blends Operational Excellence with Strategic Insight, bridging the gap between traditional operations and consulting. With over 30 years of experience, Fexco offers practical, experience-based advice, making it a trusted partner for operational and digital challenges. This is especially relevant for the public sector, where departments must balance ambitious transformation goals with daily service delivery.

Fexco Advisory Services is structured across seven key pillars, each tailored to enhance efficiency and performance in the public sector:

1. Project, programme, and portfolio management: Led by Aine McCarthy, it focuses on delivering projects using trusted methodologies,

John Swann

ensuring robust scope definition, governance, and project execution. It supports public sector clients in managing strategic transformation programmes and tactical projects.

2. Management consulting: Specialising in resolving targeted business challenges, this pillar leverages the extensive Public Sector experience of Fexco colleagues such as Swann, Martin Ryan, and Aine McCarthy to help public sector organisations align their business frameworks with strategic objectives, offering expert guidance to achieve these goals.

3. Customer excellence: Managing over five million customer interactions per year, this pillar improves customer experience by mapping customer journeys and redesigning processes, ensuring high levels of service performance across multiple contact channels.

4. Operational excellence: Focused on process optimisation, this pillar leverages Fexco’s 120+ Lean Six Sigma professionals and real-life operational experience to enhance operational effectiveness and efficiency within public sector organisations.

5. Data services: Providing insights through data analysis and innovative GenAI products, helping public sector clients make informed decisions, optimise processes, and improve service delivery.

6. Energy and ESG advisory: This supports public sector entities in achieving sustainability goals, offering expertise in energy management and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices.

7. Function-specific advisory: Tailored to specific needs such as grant management, we offer specialised advice to improve functional areas within public sector organisations.

These pillars enable Fexco to deliver comprehensive, practical solutions based on extensive real-life operational experience.

Supporting the public sector’s digital transformation

Fexco’s Advisory Services significantly benefit the Irish public sector by driving digital transformation. As public services move to digital channels, government

bodies face challenges like integrating legacy systems with new technologies, securing sensitive data, and ensuring compliance with national and European regulations.

Fexco’s unique approach blends operational expertise with advisory support, helping public sector bodies implement changes effectively while mitigating risks. The close collaboration between Fexco’s managed services and advisory services teams offers clients end-to-end service, from strategic planning to operational delivery.

This ensures that Fexco’s extensive experience in managing complex operations directly informs practical and actionable advice.

Furthermore, Fexco’s commitment to innovation is evident in its ongoing investment in technology and sustainability solutions, crucial for public sector bodies. With PACE, Fexco’s Platform for Analysing Carbon Emissions, the company has shown its capability to lead sustainability initiatives, aiding government departments in meeting Ireland’s ambitious climate targets.

Practical solutions for real-world challenges

Unlike traditional consultancies, Fexco’s advisory approach is grounded in operational reality. Under Swann’s leadership, the team delivers pragmatic advice based on real-world successes.

Government departments trust Fexco to design and implement digital

transformation strategies, improve service delivery with enhanced tools, and integrate new technologies to streamline operations, helping public sector bodies achieve their objectives efficiently.

The road ahead for public sector transformation

As Fexco expands its advisory services in 2025 and increases its workforce, this appointment further positions Fexco as a key player in supporting the Irish public sector’s digital transformation.

For senior civil servants and technology leaders in government departments, partnering with Fexco means leveraging a team that understands operational management intricacies and offers cutting-edge insights into technology, innovation, and sustainability.

Swann’s appointment as head of Fexco Advisory Services marks a new chapter, making Fexco an ideal partner for government departments navigating digital transformation and delivering efficient, secure public services.

W: www.fexco.ie

Making Ireland a digital ‘gateway to Europe’

The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) has initiated a consultation on enhancing Ireland’s international telecommunications connectivity, which is vital for an island economy dependent on subsea cables.

Ireland currently has 14 subsea cables, but lacks direct EU connectivity since Brexit, creating a gap in linking to mainland Europe.

With data demand expected to increase dramatically, driven by data centres and digital services, the consultation document asserts that timely investment is “essential”, particularly given the long lead in times for infrastructure projects. Several barriers are acknowledged as impeding necessary investment. The most pressing of these include high levies on subsea cables compared to other EU countries, complex planning and licensing procedures, inconsistent approaches to cable applications, and supply chain constraints such as the shortage of cable-laying vessels. Commercial viability also remains a concern, with substantial upfront costs for cable projects and reliance on partial EU funding.

The Department proposes several reforms to address these barriers. These include reviewing the levy framework to reduce costs and improve competitiveness, streamlining planning processes to fast-track subsea cable applications, and adopting a plan-led approach similar to that used for offshore energy projects.

DECC also recommends integrating fibre optics into future international energy interconnector projects to improve connectivity. Furthermore, government support may be extended to strategic cable projects to ensure Ireland can serve as a connectivity hub between North America, Europe, and beyond.

The Department states that Ireland is particularly suited to become a “gateway to Europe” given its geographical location as sea cable routes can come from multiple directions, thereby minimising the risk of simultaneous failure.

The consultation document therefore promotes a position which would encourage and boost national and international subsea telecoms connectivity supports EU policy in this area, including the European Commission’s Path to Digital Decade 2030 and its declarations on strengthening secure and resilient submarine cable infrastructures, published in February 2024.

For the State’s communications sector, failing to address the barriers could result in insufficient capacity to meet future demand, missing opportunities to position Ireland as a global digital hub, and increased reliance on outdated infrastructure.

Submissions for the consultation closed in July 2024, although it is unclear if there will be any steps taken before the Dáil is dissolved for the next general election.

CSR report highlights Codex commitment to a brighter future

Codex’s culture of giving back – to employees, to the community, to the planet – has resulted in a company that is exceeding all expectations.

In the hyper-competitive world of office supplies, family-owned Codex has shown that leaning into the softer side of the business – prioritising things like workplace culture, community support and sustainability – can deliver real growth.

What is the secret of Codex’s success?

A large clue can be found in the shape of the company’s latest CSR report in which CEO, Patrick Murphy, talks of his role as a “champion of change” for staff, customers, even the wider community. Where others might see change as a

burden, Codex sees it as an opportunity to do better.

In 2019, Murphy took over as CEO of the family business from his father Brendan –who founded the company in 1979 – and has been the driving force behind Codex’s rise and rise: as Ireland’s biggest B2B office supplier; as an official Great Place to Work; as one of Ireland’s Best Managed Companies; and perhaps most of all, as a company that puts people first.

“We have always been a people business,” nods Murphy. “Our products

and services have changed, the workplaces we supply to have changed, but what has never changed is our commitment to people, talent and relationships.”

Codex is renowned for having one of the most engaged workforces in the sector, a tribute to the positive culture that Murphy and his leadership team have built. The company recently appointed a new Head of People and Culture, while rolling out an inclusive annual leave policy that has been benchmarked among the 90th percentile of all Irish SMEs.

A sense of shared purpose has proven to be a powerful driving force for Codex, and this extends to the company’s community involvement, where Codex sponsors DCU’s Access to the Workplace initiative while supporting organisations including Barretstown, AsIAm, DePaul, Focus Ireland, and the Alzheimer Society of Ireland.

These initiatives are part of the company’s ‘Codex Cares’ programme, which has contributed more than €150,000 to good causes since 2020. More recently, Codex has partnered with Irish biodiversity specialist Cloudforests to support the creation of forests and nature reserves along the Wild Atlantic Way, and in schools and community areas in Dublin.

Codex has also become one of Ireland’s leading designers of neurodivergentfriendly spaces for educational institutions and has provided DCU with a bespoke ‘quiet space’ for students.

“Like many Irish SMEs, we are simply trying to be a better, more responsible business,” says the Codex CEO.

“It takes time and effort, but it is the right thing to do and that means it is what we must do.”

Web: www.codex.ie

Codex employees proudly raised €25,000 for their charity partner, Barretstown.

Codex and DCU celebrate the launch of the ‘Quiet Space’.

New roadmap sets countryspecific targets for digital transformation

Through the publication of its first national roadmap for digital transformation, the Government has established new targets in a bid to retain its status as a digital leader in the European Union.

The Digital Decade Policy Programme seeks to build on the country-specific recommendations in the European Commission’s report on the State of the Digital Decade 2023 and broaden progress beyond a strong digitalisation of government.

Ireland boasts a 100 per cent score for digitalisation of government, including services to businesses, but the roadmap acknowledges notable challenges including slow digitalisation of the health sector, the need for continuous digital skills provision, and the need for additional connectivity infrastructure.

The strategic roadmap focuses on four areas, namely:

• skills;

• digital infrastructure;

• digital transformation of businesses; and

• digital public services.

In 2022, the European Commission launched the Digital Decade Policy Programme 2030, which set up an annual cooperation cycle to achieve

common objectives and targets amongst all EU member states.

In February 2022, the Irish Government launched the Harnessing Digital – The Digital Ireland Framework, Ireland’s National Digital Strategy “to drive a coherent and impactful approach to the digital agenda”.

Harnessing Digital is aligned with the EU’s Digital Decade 2030 Programme and seeks to contribute to the achievement of its targets to progress the digitalisation of enterprise and public services.

Targets

The Government wants a digitally skilled population and high skilled digital professionals, where at least 80 per cent of those aged between 16 and 74 have at least basic digital skills with the aim of achieving greater gender balance, as well as increasing the number of graduates with higher-level digital skills.

The Government assesses that Ireland is “excelling” in the provision of highly skilled ICT

graduates at 8.6 per cent, which is over double the EU average at 3.9 per cent. However, it adds that it is “conscious that despite Ireland’s above average scores across many of the indicators… it is imperative that we continue to provide the digital skills needed to support the specific needs of the labour markets across all areas of the economy”.

For digital infrastructure, the Government is focusing on four principles:

• Connectivity: The Government wants all Irish households and businesses to be covered by a Gigabit network no later than 2028. The Government also wants all populated areas in the country to be covered by 5G no later than 2030.

• Cutting edge semiconductors: Secure, resilient, performant and sustainable digital infrastructures “where the production, in accordance with Union Law on environmental sustainability, of cutting-edge semiconductors in the union is at least 20 per cent of world production value”.

• Data, edge, and cloud: The Government want 23 public sector edge nodes by 2025.

• Computing: Secure, resilient, performant and sustainable digital infrastructures where the union has its first computer with quantum acceleration, “paving the way for the union to be at the cutting edge of quantum capabilities by 2020”.

While the Government is progressing well towards Digital Decade connectivity targets, the country requires additional international subsea cable routes, both transatlantic (EU to North/South America) and between other EU member states, to meet the demand for secure and resilient connectivity capable of meeting projected data flows.

On semiconductors, Ireland is a leading centre for this technology. Some of the most advanced chip manufacturing in Europe is developed in the State. There are over 20,000 people currently employed in Ireland’s semiconductor industry, with the State exporting €13.5 billion worth of products annually.

In addition, the Government wants to see an increase in the digitalisation of businesses, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and by 2030, aspires to have 90 per cent of SMEs at basic digital intensity level.

In keeping with the EU’s target of tech uptake, the roadmap envisages at least 75 per cent of enterprises increasing take-up in cloud computing, big data, and AI.At least 800 businesses will be supported in this takeup by 2026 under the €85 million Digital Transition Fund to support businesses to digitalise.

Furthermore, at least 35 per cent of state funding for start-up and early-state businesses is to be invested in innovative digital businesses from 2022.

Public services

The digitalisation of public services has proven to be a more complicated endeavour for the Government.

While Ireland scores strongly in the digitalisation of government, with a 100 per cent score relation to services to businesses, it has been highlighted that further efforts are needed to digitalise the health sector in order to meet the objective of access for all EU citizens to their Digital Decade health records.

The Digital Health and Social Care Roadmap, launched in May 2024 by the Department of Health, articulates objectives for everyone using the Irish health service to have access to their own digital health record.

Ireland has reached their 100 per cent target for digital public services for business “through a trusted, userdriven, intuitive, inclusive and efficient world-leading digital government service”.

The country is on target regarding digital public services for citizens (81 per cent compared to the EU average of 77 per cent), and the State’s national target is more ambitious than the EU-level target (90 per cent of applicable services to be consumed online by the end of the decade).

Additionally, the Government has seen a high take-up of MyGovID, with close to 2.2 million verified accounts by the end of Q3 2023, with ambitions to have 80 per cent of eligible citizens using MyGovID by 2030.

The State remains committed to maintaining its progress and implementation across the continuing digitalisation of public services, with work underway to begin implementation of a digital wallet.

Why managed detection and

response (MDR) and threat intelligence (TI) are critical components for securing government institutions and organisations

In 2023, cyberattacks against governments significantly increased, driven by both ransomware and non-malware methods.

Globally, there were around 800,000 cyberattacks throughout 2023, translating to over 2,200 attacks per day across various sectors, including government. Governments have been frequent targets due to the sensitive nature of the data they hold and can be prime targets for cybercriminals, hacktivists, and nation-state actors.

In 2024, cyberattacks against governments continued to rise sharply, with major incidents targeting several countries. Additionally, sectors like healthcare and education, which are closely tied to public infrastructure, also suffered from significant attacks. The US and EU particularly saw a significant increase in attacks on government agencies, driven in part by geopolitical conflicts.

Traditional security measures such as firewalls and antivirus software are no longer sufficient to counter advanced persistent threats (APTs) and other evolving cyberattacks. MDR fills this gap by offering advanced detection and immediate response to mitigate potential risks at any hour of the day or night, including weekends and public holidays with its combination of human expertise and automated technology.

ESET has invested in building the world’s leading cybersecurity team with 13 R&D centres worldwide, continuously monitoring all time zones. Security teams work alongside tools like artificial intelligence and machine learning to analyse network traffic, detect anomalies, and respond to threats, using technology to help automate decisions, but with experts standing behind each threat evaluation.

In 2023, a staggering 17 billion personal data records were compromised in various breaches. This marked a significant increase in the number of breaches reported globally, with over 6,000 incidents recorded. Over 70 per cent of these breaches involved unauthorised external access to sensitive information such as names, social security numbers, and financial data. The ability to detect, contain, and remediate threats quickly can be crucial in preventing the compromise of sensitive data, such as classified information or personally identifiable information. MDR helps comply with data regulations, thanks to full disk encryption and multi-factor authentication capabilities with seamless deployment. Third-party software vulnerabilities are kept in check with

fully automated patch management that also protects against ransomware and zero-day threats.

It is also essential for government institutions and organisations to clearly understand the tactics, techniques and procedures used by adversaries, especially state-sponsored actors and organised cybercrime groups, by having access to good threat intelligence.

ESET technology searches for threats constantly, across multiple layers and enables users to benefit from telemetry on all countries where emerging threats are detected. This brings an understanding of what is happening on the ‘bad side of the internet’ and provides context, as well as helps anticipate threats and strengthen defences against the most significant risks so that internal preparations can be made. ESET Threat Intelligence therefore helps institutions and organisations gain insights into emerging threats, helping them to prepare for and mitigate attacks before they occur, block APTs and ransomware and improve their cybersecurity architecture as well as make crucial decisions quickly and efficiently, which is essential not only for operational efficiency but also for maintaining public trust and safeguarding national interests.

W:

www.eset.ie Blog: blog.eset.ie

Securing Europe’s digital connectivity

The European Commission has made four recommendations to its member states on the development of “secure and resilient submarine cable infrastructure”.

The European Commission’s Recommendation on Secure and Resilient Submarine Cable Infrastructures has made four recommendations for its member states. These measures focus on both immediate security enhancements and long-term infrastructure development, with an emphasis on cooperation between member state governments.

National risk assessments and stress testing

The first recommendation calls on member states to conduct national risk assessments on their submarine cable infrastructure. These assessments are vital for mapping out existing cables, identifying vulnerabilities, and evaluating cybersecurity and physical risks. For Ireland, conducting such assessments is essential due to its dependence on submarine cables for communication and economic activities, especially its financial services sector, which relies on stable international data connections. These risk assessments, the recommendation asserts, should not only focus on physical

security – such as the risk of sabotage or natural disasters – but also address cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the infrastructure. Cyber threats, especially from state-sponsored actors, are cited as posing a significant risk to the confidentiality and integrity of data transmitted through these cables.

To complement risk assessments, the recommendation advises member states to carry out regular ‘stress testing’ of entities operating these cables. Stress testing, the recommendation states, can help identify weaknesses in infrastructure resilience under various threat scenarios, such as cyberattacks or physical damage to cables.

High security standards

The recommendation advocates for implementing high security standards for submarine cable infrastructure, regardless of ownership. In particular, member states should “adopt defence-level standards where relevant, especially in sensitive areas like national security”. These standards encompass both

physical security – protecting the cables from sabotage or accidental damage –and cybersecurity, ensuring data transmitted through the cables is secure from interception or manipulation.

Additionally, the recommendation suggests reinforcing obligations on suppliers and operators under the EU’s Network and Information Systems (NIS 2) Directive. This could include obligating companies to provide detailed information to national authorities on any planned changes to the cables and requiring IT systems used for cable management to undergo security testing. For national governments, this would require enhanced cooperation between private sector cable operators and public security agencies, ensuring that potential threats are addressed collaboratively and proactively.

Fast-tracking of permit procedures

The third recommendation focuses on streamlining administrative processes related to the planning, acquisition, construction, maintenance, and repair of submarine cables. Given the critical role these cables play, delays in obtaining permits for repairs or new construction could leave vital infrastructure vulnerable for extended periods. The recommendation advises member states to process permit applications as efficiently as possible, using online systems to expedite procedures.

The recommendation also proposes granting submarine cables the status of “overriding public interest” in national law, allowing for faster approvals under environmental and spatial planning regulations.

For Ireland, this would mean that, in the event of environmental considerations, maintaining the functionality of these cables would take precedence, ensuring swift action when needed. Planning and Development Act 2024 - signed in to law on 17 October, 2024 – which includes mechanisms for simplifying development consent processes and emphasises the need for efficient planning around critical infrastructures such as cables, wires, and pipelines in both land and maritime contexts.

Information sharing and international cooperation

The final recommendation encourages cross-border cooperation and information sharing among EU member states. Given the international nature of submarine cables, a coordinated European approach is vital. Member states are advised to exchange best practices, threat intelligence, and incident response strategies to enhance the collective resilience of the EU’s digital infrastructure.

This recommendation aligns with Ireland’s broader role within the EU as a key player in transatlantic connectivity. Ireland is not only connected to other EU member states but also to North America, making it strategically important in global data transmission. By actively participating in EU-wide information sharing initiatives, Ireland can contribute to – and benefit from – a collective pool of knowledge on emerging threats and mitigation strategies.

What this means for Ireland

For Ireland, the European Commission’s Recommendation on Secure and Resilient Submarine Cable Infrastructures is crucial given the State’s reliance on international digital connectivity and its potential role as a transatlantic data hub as the Government aims to expand use of data centres. It would further enable the Government to meet its goals under the National Cyber Security Strategy 2019–2024, which prioritises protecting critical infrastructure, including submarine cables.

Under the Government’s broad goals for digital connectivity and subsequent economic growth, under the framework of Project Ireland 2040, alignment with the EU’s proposals would allow Ireland to secure a direct submarine cable link with the European Union – something which was lost upon Britain’s exit from the EU in 2020 – and reduce the extent to which the economy is dependent on Britain.

Digital Connectivity Office: Making the State’s digital connectivity ambitions a reality

Acting Director of the Digital Connectivity Office (DCO) with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) Kevin O’Donoghue outlines the rationale informing the establishment of the Digital Connectivity Office, its role and remit, and progress against its objectives to date.

Establishment of Digital Connectivity Office

The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications plays a lead role in shaping the direction and pace of Ireland’s digital transformation and ensuring the delivery of world class communications to citizens and businesses across the State and internationally. The publication of Ireland’s first Digital Connectivity Strategy in December 2022 was a significant milestone in terms of setting out the parameters through which the Department will support the delivery of the Government’s objectives in this area.

Supporting the ambition outlined in the National Digital Strategy, Harnessing Digital: Digital Ireland Framework, the Digital Connectivity Strategy commits to ensuring all households and businesses in the State will be covered by a gigabit network no later than 2028 and that all populated areas will be covered by 5G no later than 2030. It also includes a commitment to provide digital connectivity to all schools and

broadband connection points that was successfully fulfilled before the end of 2023.

Following publication of the Digital Connectivity Strategy, the Department established the Digital Connectivity Office in 2023 to oversee the delivery of Ireland’s digital connectivity targets including oversight of the National Broadband Plan (NBP) contract with National Broadband Ireland (NBI). The NBP is a key enabler to the achievement of the Digital Connectivity Strategy targets for gigabit broadband availability.

Role and remit

The strategic objective of the Digital Connectivity Office is to ensure quality and future-proofed connectivity for all premises and businesses in the State, regardless of location, through policy measures and a regulatory framework that encourages commercial investment and through government-led initiatives.

Its remit includes overseeing the delivery of fixed and mobile connectivity by the commercial sector, effective governance of the contract with National Broadband Ireland to deliver the

“The ubiquitous availability of high-speed, reliable, and digital connectivity will... position Ireland at the forefront of European and global digital developments.”

Kevin O’Donoghue, acting Director, Digital Connectivity Office, Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications

National Broadband Plan Programme across the State Intervention Area, and effective collaboration on the development of options and implementation strategies to accelerate the delivery of gigabit broadband to all by 2028 and 5G coverage to populated areas by 2030.

Current and upcoming priorities

The Digital Connectivity Office encompasses several different workstreams that are currently focused on governance and oversight of the NBP contract with NBI, with a separate team focusing specifically on connectivity development issues, including implementation of the Gigabit Infrastructure Act.

The DCO is also responsible for bringing forward proposals from the recently transposed European Electronic Communications Code with regard to Universal Service Obligations for voice and broadband. These new regulations require the State to ensure that all citizens have access to adequate voice and broadband services at an affordable price. In addition, the DCO is carrying out a significant review of Ireland’s international interconnectivity capacity to ensure future policy and demand needs are met over the coming decades.

Other upcoming priorities will include effective liaison with the relevant parties responsible for copper switchoff and addressing the issue of urban connectivity blackspots.

Progress to date

Most of the digital connectivity across the State is being delivered through commercial investment by the telecommunications industry, complemented by the rollout of fibre, across mainly rural areas, under the Statesubsidised National Broadband Plan. Over the last three years, owing to significant investment by commercial operators and the State, there has been rapid expansion of gigabit capability in every county across Ireland.

As the largest infrastructure project since rural electrification, the NBP represents a major investment by

the State in its digital infrastructure and future capabilities. It will ensure that high-speed broadband is available to all premises in the Intervention Area, including all the country’s islands, no later than 2027.

Where it is not economically viable for commercial operators, the NBP has stepped in and will deliver a high-speed broadband network to 96 per cent of Ireland’s land mass, covering 23 per cent of Ireland’s population living in the most rural and remote areas, which includes 69 per cent of farms. It is expected that over 600,000 premises, including new builds, will be passed during the lifetime of the Programme with the network offering a minimum download speed of 500Mbps from the outset, while also future-proofed to deliver up to 10Gbps speeds.

Tuesday 19 November 2024 will mark the five-year anniversary of the signing of the NBP contract with NBI. Progress to date in rolling out the NBP network has been strong and NBI is on track to deliver the contract on time and within budget. NBI is currently active in all 26 counties across the State, with over 315,000 Premises in the State Intervention Area now able to connect to the new NBP network and over 100,000 Premises already connected.

The European Commission’s State of the Digital Decade Report 2024, which was published in September 2024, notes that Ireland continues to perform strongly under several indicators related to digital infrastructure. It reports that 78.5 per cent of households are currently covered by Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) infrastructure, with an annual progress of 8.9 per cent, placing Ireland further above the EU average coverage of 64 per cent.

The ubiquitous availability of high-speed, reliable, and digital connectivity will support the delivery of Ireland’s economic and social ambitions and position Ireland at the forefront of European and global digital developments.

Internet coverage and usage in Ireland

The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has published Internet Coverage and Usage in Ireland 2024 as the first of four components of the annual Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Household Survey.

Referencing the findings of the survey, Maureen Delamere, a statistician in the CSO’s social analysis division, remarks: “Our everyday lives are becoming far more digital, and in 2024, we were online more than ever and relying on technology and digital services.”

of all households have internet access of households use mobile broadband of households use fixed broadband

95% of internet users go online daily

97% of 16- to 29-year-olds use the internet several times every day

100% of surveyed students use the internet daily

54% of older people (aged 75 and over) reported internet use in the previous three months

Household internet connectivity in Dublin is 97%

Household internet connectivity in both the border and the midland regions is 91%

6% of households in Ireland have no internet access and of these, 56% report that they ‘do not need’ the internet

Decarbonisation of assets report

Decarbonisation of Ireland’s assets: Gas Networks Ireland’s resilient infrastructure

and skilled workforce

Ireland’s energy landscape is undergoing a profound transformation as the country commits to a sustainable, decarbonised future. At the heart of this change lies Gas Networks Ireland’s national gas infrastructure—a €3 billion asset that spans 14,725km of pipeline and its highly skilled workforce. Together, these resources are central to the resilience of Ireland’s energy system and its pathway toward a net zero carbon future. “

Ireland’s energy future depends on a resilient, decarbonised gas network, and Gas Networks Ireland is playing a central role in making that vision a reality. Through strategic investments in infrastructure and the development of renewable gas technologies, the organisation is laying the foundation for a net zero carbon future. At the same time, its skilled workforce is being equipped with the training and resources needed to support this transition, ensuring that Ireland’s gas network remains a safe, reliable, and innovative asset for decades to come.

Gas Networks Ireland’s ongoing projects, including the integration of biomethane and hydrogen into the national grid, are evidence of the organisation’s commitment to sustainability. As Ireland progresses toward its net zero target, the role of the gas network will evolve, supporting backup power generation, renewable heat, and potentially even energy exports.

This transformation not only aligns with Ireland’s climate goals but also reinforces Gas Networks Ireland’s

commitment to sustainable development, a pledge recognised with the organisation’s recent appointment as a United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG) Champion. As part of this initiative, Gas Networks Ireland continues to demonstrate how the responsible management of energy resources can significantly contribute to global climate action, aligning with the UNSDG’s focus on affordable and clean energy (Goal 7) and climate action (Goal 13).

In October 2024, Gas Networks Ireland received the prestigious Engineers Ireland Continuing professional development (CPD) Employer of the Year Award for pioneering its Female Development Programme, an initiative designed to increase the percentage of women within the organisation’s senior management team to 40 per cent. Pictured are Gas Networks Ireland’s Director of People Nicola McSweeney and CEO Cathal Marley together with two of the programme’s participants, engineers Elizabeth Hosey and Emma McQuiggan.

A resilient network for the future

Ireland’s gas network has long been a cornerstone of the nation’s energy supply, delivering 30 per cent of its core energy demand, 40 per cent of its heat, and supporting nearly 50 per cent of electricity generation. On days when wind and solar energy are unavailable, this network provides up to 90 per cent of Ireland’s electricity through flexible, reliable backup power generation. However, as the country embarks on its decarbonisation journey, Gas Networks Ireland has a dual mission: to maintain this essential service while transitioning to renewable gases such as biomethane and green hydrogen.

The capital expenditure (CAPEX) allocated for these efforts in recent years underscores Gas Networks Ireland’s commitment to future proofing the network. In 2023 alone, substantial investments were directed toward upgrading the existing infrastructure and supporting the transition to renewable gas. By ensuring that its pipeline system is capable of transporting renewable gases without significant modifications, Gas Networks Ireland is positioning itself as a leader in Europe’s green energy transition. The organisation is also laying the groundwork for new asset development, which includes the design, testing and construction of biomethane central grid injection facilities and hydrogen-ready infrastructure.

These investments are driven by a vision for 2045, outlined in Gas Networks Ireland’s Pathway to a Net Zero Carbon Network. This strategy details how the network will evolve to carry only renewable gases, supporting the country’s Climate Action Plan targets. Over the next two decades, the network will be pivotal in supporting both electricity generation and the decarbonisation of heat and transport, ultimately reducing Ireland’s reliance on fossil fuels.

Investing in Ireland’s robust and resilient gas network

Ireland’s gas network continues to demonstrate its reliability by ensuring customers receive a safe, reliable and secure supply of energy. The network is sustained by comprehensive maintenance and capital programmes.

In 2023, Gas Networks invested around €150 million in critical infrastructure, making significant progress in its capital

and maintenance programmes. The company completed 98 per cent of all planned maintenance, including key repairs at compressor stations in southwest Scotland. It responded to 14,856 publicly reported gas escapes, with 99.9 per cent addressed within the one hour target. Remedial works were completed on 50 multi occupancy buildings, and leakage surveys were carried out across 2,264km of mains and services.

Notable 2023 CAPEX projects include:

• construction completed on three new connections for power stations: Grange Backup Power (Grangecastle, Dublin), ESB Poolbeg, and ESB Ringsend;

• construction started on a new connection to ESB Corduff power station;

• a capacity upgrade of Kilshane above ground infrastructure (AGI) was completed and commissioned;

• construction began on a capacity upgrade at Ardree AGI;

• upgrades to electrical switchgear commenced at Brighouse Bay Compressor Station in Scotland;

• refurbishment works were completed at Beattock Compressor Station and Brownsbarn AGI;

• over 8km of distribution pipeline reinforcement was completed; and

• two compressed natural gas (CNG) stations were commissioned.

2024 strategic priorities

Throughout 2024, Gas Networks Ireland has continued to create meaningful value for the people of Ireland and ensure the steady flow of energy, playing a key role in the transition to a low carbon energy system.

Gas Networks Ireland is conducting further research on the technical and safety feasibility of injecting green hydrogen into Ireland’s gas network, utilising its ‘off-grid’ network at its Network Innovation Centre. The company is also developing a hydrogen safety and technical roadmap, including future hydrogen trials, while working with government bodies and other stakeholders to advance the National Hydrogen Strategy.

Progress continues toward achieving the Government’s target of 5.7 TWh of biomethane on the network by 2030, with 4

Gas Networks Ireland confident that this goal is achievable with the necessary support.

In May, Gas Networks Ireland and Bia Energy agreed a significant partnership to enable the direct injection of renewable biomethane gas produced from food waste at Bia Energy’s new €60 million anaerobic digestion facility in Huntstown, County Dublin directly into the national gas network. The agreement was signed shortly after the Government published its National Biomethane Strategy and marked an important milestone in the development of Ireland’s renewable energy sector.

Ireland is almost unique in the European Union in having no strategic gas storage facilities and this over-reliance on a single source of natural gas makes Ireland susceptible to supply disruptions, whether that being due to infrastructure interruption or market dynamics. Any disruption of gas from the UK, could result in curtailment of gas fired generation, resulting in inevitable electricity shortages and damage to the economy/wider society.

Although a disruption to Ireland’s supplies of gas is considered to be unlikely, this is one of the key reasons Gas Networks Ireland believes that gas storage is required, and in parallel is working hard to develop an indigenous biomethane industry, which would not only support the decarbonisation of the agricultural sector, but also ensure diversity of supply as the Corrib gas field depletes over the coming years.

In line with the Government decision to develop a state-led Strategic Gas Emergency Reserve, Gas Networks Ireland, as the independent gas transmission system operator (TSO), is preparing a detailed proposal for a reserve that will provide Ireland with an immediate source of emergency gas in the event of an outage or disruption to the current supply.

A strategic gas emergency reserve is a gas storage facility that will provide Ireland with an immediate source of emergency gas in the event of an outage or disruption to Ireland’s current gas supply as the country transitions to more renewable sources.

Gas Networks Ireland remains committed to putting customers at the heart of its business by delivering excellent service while advancing its sustainability agenda. It aims to operate in a way that protects the environment and supports the social and economic development of the communities it serves, all while maintaining a competitive, efficient gas network that contributes directly to Ireland’s emission reduction targets.

Strategic projects driving decarbonisation

A key part of Ireland’s energy transition is the integration of renewable gases into the existing gas network. Biomethane, a carbon neutral gas produced from organic waste, is already on Ireland’s network. To achieve the Government’s target of 10 per cent of gas on the network to be biomethane by 2030, Gas Networks Ireland is constructing a central grid injection facility in Mitchelstown, County Cork, where the gas is compressed and injected into the national grid. These facilities will allow farmers, waste processors, and energy

While Gas Networks Ireland’s pipeline network forms the physical backbone of the energy transition, its people are key to realising a fully decarbonised network by 2045.

producers to contribute to the decarbonisation effort, with significant environmental and economic benefits.

In addition to biomethane, green hydrogen is set to play an increasingly important role in Ireland’s energy future. Produced by using renewable electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, green hydrogen can provide a carbon free alternative to natural gas in industrial processes that require high heat. Gas Networks Ireland has been conducting off grid testing at its Network Innovation Centre in Dublin to assess the feasibility of transporting hydrogen through its pipeline system. Early results are promising, indicating that the existing infrastructure can carry green hydrogen with minimal modification.

The development of hydrogen infrastructure will likely result in a parallel system: biomethane for the distribution network and hydrogen for large energy users. This division will ensure that Ireland’s gas network can meet the diverse energy demands of different sectors while maximising the potential of renewable gases. Gas Networks Ireland is also exploring the possibility of exporting green hydrogen to the UK via the existing interconnectors with Scotland, further integrating Ireland into the European energy market.

Supporting renewable backup power

As Ireland continues to expand its renewable electricity generation capacity, the need for flexible, backup generation has never been greater. The Climate Action Plan calls for at least 2 GW of new flexible generation capacity by 2030, and Gas Networks Ireland is at the forefront of this effort. Several projects are already underway to connect backup power stations to the gas network, ensuring that Ireland has a reliable source of electricity when renewable sources are unavailable.

One such project is the conversion of Bord na Móna’s 116 MW power station in Edenderry, County Offaly, from diesel to natural gas. This transition will reduce the plant’s emissions by 40 per cent, with further reductions expected as biomethane and hydrogen become more widely available. To facilitate this shift, Gas Networks Ireland will construct a 23km pipeline to connect the station to the national gas network.

By 2030, Gas Networks Ireland expects to deliver new connections to multiple backup generation stations, with some projects already in the design phase and others nearing completion. These efforts are critical to balancing Ireland’s electricity grid as renewable energy sources like wind and solar fluctuate throughout the year.

The people behind the pipes

While Gas Networks Ireland’s pipeline network forms the physical backbone of the energy transition, it is the organisation’s workforce that drives its success. Gas Networks Ireland has built an expert team with the knowledge and experience to manage the complex systems required to deliver gas securely and reliably. As the company transitions to renewable gases, it will

continue to leverage this expertise while adapting to meet new challenges.

Recognising the skills gap in the renewables and cyber security sectors, Gas Networks Ireland has already taken steps to address these emerging needs. Through graduate and apprenticeship programmes, the organisation is training the next generation of energy professionals. These programmes cover a range of skills, from mechanical automation and maintenance fitting to electrical instrumentation and plumbing, ensuring that apprentices receive both hands on training and classroom based learning.

By partnering with educational institutions and SOLAS, Ireland’s further education and training authority, Gas Networks Ireland ensures that its apprentices are trained to the highest standard. Upon completion of the four year programme, participants receive a Level 6 Advanced Certificate Craft, a nationally and internationally recognised qualification. This investment in workforce development is essential to ensuring that Gas Networks Ireland has the technical skills required to maintain and expand its renewable energy assets in the years to come,

A commitment to workplace wellbeing and inclusion

Beyond technical training, Gas Networks Ireland is committed to fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment. This commitment is demonstrated through various workplace wellbeing initiatives, including the Time to Talk, Work Safe Home Safe, and Occupational Health and Wellbeing programmes. In 2023, Gas Networks Ireland took its workplace wellbeing efforts a step further by achieving the KeepWell Mark, a national accreditation for excellence in employee health and wellbeing. This holistic programme evaluates workplace initiatives across eight key areas, and Gas Networks Ireland’s success in achieving this mark underscores its dedication to employee welfare.

In addition to wellbeing initiatives, Gas Networks Ireland has launched a series of policies aimed at fostering diversity and inclusion within the organisation. The iBelong programme, overseen by the Diversity and Inclusion Council, includes several employee resource groups focused on issues ranging from gender equality to neurodiversity. Through networks such as the Women’s Network, Rainbow Network (LGBTQ+), and the Culture and Ethnicity Network, Gas Networks Ireland promotes an inclusive culture where all employees can thrive.

W: www.gasnetworks.ie

Decarbonising the public sector

The Public Sector Climate Action Mandate, a feature within Climate Action Plan 2024, outlines significant steps to reduce emissions across public sector operations.

Central to the mandate, published alongside Climate Action Plan 2024 in December 2023, is the decarbonisation of state-owned assets such as buildings, vehicles, and operational practices, aimed at achieving a 51 per cent reduction in energy-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030.

The Public Sector Climate Action Mandate is built around two primary objectives for the public sector:

• reducing energy-related GHG emissions by 51 per cent; and

• improving energy efficiency by 50 per cent by 2030.

The mandate applies to all public sector bodies, except for local authorities, commercial semi-state bodies, and the school sector.

Enhancing energy efficiency and building retrofits

One of the key components of the public sector decarbonisation strategy is improving the energy efficiency of public buildings. The mandate specifies that public bodies must begin deep retrofits of at least one building by 2024. This process will play a vital role in transitioning older buildings to nearly zero energy buildings (NZEB) or zero emission buildings (ZEB), with the ultimate goal of reaching this standard by 2050.

Retrofitting is cited as a measure which not only addresses current emissions from building operations, but also sets a precedent for future infrastructure developments. Public bodies with large estates are expected to create portfolio building stock plans by the end of 2024, determining which buildings are suitable for retrofitting and aligning these projects with national climate goals. Smaller organisations are also encouraged to conduct building stock analyses as part of their overall decarbonisation strategies.

Moreover, the mandate prohibits public bodies from installing fossil fuel-based heating systems in new buildings or major renovations, unless exceptional circumstances apply. This includes a transition to renewable heating systems like heat pumps, ensuring that the public sector leads by example in using cleaner, more efficient technologies.

Zero emissions transport

The transition to zero emissions vehicles is another central pillar of the Public Sector Climate Action Mandate. The mandate requires public bodies to procure only zeroemissions vehicles starting from the end of 2022, in alignment with the EU Clean Vehicles Directive. This policy represents a significant move toward decarbonising public sector transport, with the goal of completely phasing out fossil fuel-dependent vehicles by 2030.

The challenge of transitioning heavy duty vehicles to zero emissions alternatives is acknowledged in the mandate, particularly given current market limitations. However, public bodies are encouraged to procure ‘clean vehicles’ that meet the EU’s directive and contribute to reducing the carbon footprint of public transport operations.

In addition, by 2024, all public sector bodies with vehicle fleets must develop plans for installing electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. This ensures that the necessary infrastructure is in place to support the wider adoption of zero emissions vehicles, aligning fleet decarbonisation timelines with the overall climate action goals.

Green procurement and waste management

The decarbonisation of public assets extends beyond transport and buildings to include sustainable procurement practices. Green public procurement (GPP) is central to this effort, requiring public bodies to prioritise environmental criteria when purchasing goods and services. The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Green Public Procurement Guidance serves as a resource for integrating sustainability into procurement decisions, particularly for construction projects that can leverage low-carbon materials, such as environmentally friendly cement.

The mandate also places a strong emphasis on resource and waste management, ensuring that public sector operations align with circular economy principles. By 2024, all public bodies must monitor and measure food waste, with the goal of reducing waste generation and improving segregation. Contracts related to food services must include specific measures to prevent and manage food waste, reinforcing the public sector’s role in promoting sustainable consumption.

The mandate further encourages public bodies to eliminate single-use plastics and shift towards digital processes to reduce paper consumption. Where paper use is unavoidable, recycled paper must be the default option. These steps not only reduce the environmental impact of public sector operations but also contribute to Ireland’s broader sustainability objectives.

Organisational leadership

To facilitate a cultural shift in how public bodies approach sustainability, the mandate calls for the establishment of green teams within each organisation, responsible for driving climate action and sustainability initiatives. These teams, reporting directly to senior management, are to ensure that climate considerations are integrated into decision-making processes at every level.

Senior management and state board members are also required to complete climate action leadership training. This initiative is designed to equip decision-makers with the knowledge and tools needed to lead effectively in the decarbonisation effort. Green procurement training for staff further ensures that public bodies can make informed purchasing decisions that align with environmental goals.

The mandate also requires annual reporting on GHG emissions, implementation progress, and sustainability activities. This transparency fosters a culture of accountability, where public bodies are encouraged to continuously improve their performance in line with the national decarbonisation strategy.

The mandate, like the wider Climate Action Plan, does not go into detail about how the proposed measures should be achieved by relevant bodies, rather outlining a general vision of decarbonisation along with broad measures such as “decarbonising fleets”. As with the private sector, bold decisions will be required by individual decision-makers within each organisation in order to accelerate the decarbonisation of Ireland’s stateowned assets.

Bord Gáis Energy at the heart of energising a greener, fairer future for Ireland

In

the face of climate challenges and the urgent need for more renewable energy on the grid, Bord Gáis Energy is positioned to play a key role in driving Ireland’s energy transition.

Leading Ireland’s energy transition

With a clear commitment to achieving net zero by 2045, the company, underpinned by its parent Centrica, is investing heavily in the infrastructure and skills required to power a sustainable future.

The transition to a green energy company is no small undertaking and will see Bord Gáis Energy move from 500 megawatts of green energy to 3,200 megawatts over the next six years. By 2030, Bord Gáis Energy aims to supply up to 10 per cent of Ireland’s total energy demand from green sources through partnerships and investments in large-scale infrastructure projects.

Harnessing offshore wind power

It is well established that Ireland, with its vast coastline and strong wind resources, holds significant potential for offshore wind development. Recognising this, Bord Gáis Energy formed a strategic partnership with Corio Generation, a global leader in offshore wind development, earlier in 2024. This collaboration combines Bord Gáis Energy’s experience as a leading energy retailer and Corio’s extensive experience in developing large-scale offshore wind projects globally.

This partnership will help unlock the potential of offshore wind, which is critical to decarbonising Ireland’s energy system. By capitalising on the potential of offshore wind, Bord Gáis Energy will not only enhance Ireland’s energy security, but also provide customers and businesses with cleaner, more affordable energy. 90 per cent of Bord Gáis Energy’s renewable electricity generation will come from wind by 2030.

Bord Gáis Energy’s €300 million investment in peaker plants will ease pressure on the national grid and support greater integration of renewable energy.

Investing in solar energy

Wind energy is a cornerstone of Ireland’s renewable energy strategy, but it is only part of the equation. Solar energy is another critical area that Bord Gáis Energy is investing in to help decarbonise Ireland's energy mix. In collaboration with the Irish Farmer’s Association, Bord Gáis Energy has established an innovative programme to bring solar installations to farmers across Ireland.

Bord Gáis Energy’s teams have experience in completing over 1,500 solar installations nationwide, and the company expects to install 300 more solar systems on homes and farms this year alone. Looking ahead, the company aims to deliver 12,000 solar installations by 2029, helping customers across the country reduce their reliance on fossil fuels and lower their energy bills.

Securing Ireland’s energy supply

While renewable energy is key to a sustainable future, ensuring the security of energy supply remains critical, especially as we transition to a grid dominated by intermittent renewables like wind and solar. To address this, Bord Gáis Energy is making significant investments in two gas peaker plants in Athlone and Dublin, which are currently under development. These plants are designed to provide backup power during periods of high demand or when renewable energy generation is low.

The plants can move from a standing start to full power generation in just six minutes, ensuring that Ireland’s energy supply remains secure and stable. Importantly, these plants are hydrogen enabled meaning they are futureproofed to operate on renewable gas when it becomes available. The €300 million investment in peaker plants will significantly alleviate pressure on the national grid and help integrate more renewable energy into the system. The plants are expected to come online in 2025, providing a crucial bridge between Ireland’s current reliance on fossil fuels and its renewable energy future.

As part of its upstream investments, the company is also delivering innovative hydrogen, ammonia, battery storage, and hydrogen-ready gas storage

projects – such as Project Kestrel off the coast of Kinsale – which will further support security of energy supply in Ireland.

Empowering the people behind the transition

At the heart of Bord Gáis Energy’s ambitious plans for the future are its people. The company recognises that building the infrastructure for a netzero future is only part of the solution; equipping its workforce with the right skills is equally essential. Over the next five years, Bord Gáis Energy will increase its headcount by 50 per cent, creating hundreds of new jobs across the country to support the energy transition.

This growth will be supported by the company’s technical skills apprentice programme (launched in 2021) and a graduate program, both of which are designed to nurture the next generation of engineers to support Ireland’s green energy transition. Existing employees are also being provided with the tools and training necessary to adapt to the rapidly changing energy landscape. By empowering its people, Bord Gáis Energy is ensuring that it has the talent and expertise to drive forward the transition to a cleaner, greener energy system.

A brighter future

How we do business is just as important to us as why. We are firmly committed to ensuring that the transition is a just one. We do this through our partnerships with Focus Ireland to support people at risk of or experiencing homelessness; our Energy Support Fund to support vulnerable people struggling to pay bills; as well as our inclusive workplace culture.

Through strategic partnerships, large scale infrastructure projects and significant investments in renewable energy, the company is helping to build the foundation for a greener, fairer future. As Ireland moves towards its 2030 climate goals and beyond to carbon neutrality in 2050, Bord Gáis Energy aims to play a central role in Ireland’s renewable energy transition.

For further information visit www.bordgaisenergy.ie

Bord Gáis Energy's innovative partnership with the IFA is bringing solar rooftop installations to farmers across Ireland.

CAP24: Setting out the decarbonisation of Ireland’s assets

The sectoral emissions ceilings included in Climate Action Plan 2024 (CAP24) outline the framework within which the decarbonisation of Ireland’s assets must take place, with the State targeting net zero by 2050.

The CAP24 sectoral ceilings, determined for different industries, serve as limits on the total amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions each sector can produce over defined periods.

Understanding these ceilings and how they necessitate changes across the State’s economy is essential to understanding how the decarbonisation of Ireland’s assets will take place.

Sectoral emission ceilings

The 2023 and 2024 Climate Action Plan, under direction from the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021, include carbon budgets for three distinct periods: 2021-2025, 2026-2030, and 2031-2035, aiming for significant annual reductions in GHG emissions across all sectors by 2030. Ireland seeks to achieve a net zero carbon economy by 2050, with interim targets playing a key role in reaching this target.

Each sector has specific emission ceilings based on these budgets, with the following notable examples for the 2021-2025 and 2026-2030 periods:

These ceilings aim to drastically reduce emissions in each sector, demanding deep decarbonisation strategies, transforming current practices, and deploying new technologies.

Electricity

The decarbonisation of electricity is foundational, as it underpins efforts in other sectors such as transport, industry, and heating. Ireland’s goal is to achieve 80 per cent renewable electricity by 2030, primarily through the expansion of wind, solar, and offshore renewable sources. Actions to decarbonise the electricity sector include:

• Expanding renewable generation: Ireland aims to have 9GW of onshore wind, 8GW of solar, and at least 5GW of offshore wind by 2030.

• Strengthening grid infrastructure: With increased renewable generation comes the need for a more robust and flexible electricity grid. Grid enhancements must focus on accommodating intermittent renewable energy sources.

• Demand-side flexibility: Encouraging consumers and large energy users to adopt smart technologies to adjust their energy use to match renewable supply will be crucial for balancing the grid.

Agriculture

As the largest emitter, the agriculture sector must reduce its GHG emissions by 25 per cent by 2030 compared to 2018 levels. Key strategies include:

• Improving efficiency: Technologies such as lowemission slurry spreading and protected urea fertilisers will reduce emissions from livestock and soil management.

• Land use and forestry: Shifting towards carbon sequestration practices in land use, such as reforestation and afforestation, will play a vital role in offsetting emissions from agriculture.

• Alternative livestock diets: Encouraging the use of methane inhibitors and developing alternative livestock feeding strategies can help to reduce methane emissions from cattle.

Industry

The broad industrial sector must reduce emissions by 35 per cent by 2030. Key decarbonisation actions include:

• Electrification: Shifting industrial energy use from fossil fuels to electricity, particularly in heat generation, is crucial. The electrification of manufacturing processes can significantly reduce reliance on natural gas and oil.

• Carbon capture and storage (CCS): Technologies that capture CO2 emissions at the source and store them underground are essential, particularly for industries where emissions are hard to abate, such as cement production.

• Hydrogen and biomass: Using hydrogen as a clean fuel for industrial processes, combined with the adoption of biomass where electrification is not feasible, will play a significant role.

Built environment (residential and commercial)

The built environment contributes over 11 per cent of Ireland’s emissions, and significant reductions are required. The sector needs to prioritise energy efficiency improvements and decarbonise heating. Key measures include:

• Retrofit programmes: Retrofitting homes and commercial buildings to higher energy efficiency standards will reduce energy demand. The goal is to retrofit 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating (BER) of B2 or better by 2030.

• Heat pumps: Heat pumps are a key technology for decarbonising residential and commercial heating

systems. The target is to install heat pumps in 400,000 homes by 2030.

• District heating: Expanding district heating systems, particularly in urban areas, will help reduce reliance on individual fossil fuel boilers.

Transport

The transport sector accounted for 21.4 per cent of Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2023, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The sector’s decarbonisation will require a shift away from private fossil-fuel cars towards electrified personal transport and expansion of public transport. Targets include:

• Electric vehicles (EVs): Government has outlined a target of one million electric vehicles on the road by 2030. This will require expanding the EV charging infrastructure.

• Public transport and active travel: While no specific broad sectoral reforms are outlined by government, Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan TD has stated that bus electrification, expanded rail networks, and expansion of cycling infrastructure are essential to encourage a shift away from car dependency. Some notable examples include the BusConnects and DART+ programmes, which aim to improve public transport offerings.

Analysis

CAP24 reemphasises the broad targets set out under the 2021 Act for decarbonising Ireland’s assets in each sector. While the plan sets out the broad decarbonisation targets for each sector, the means through which this will actually be achieved is dependent on innovation and leadership by sectoral leaders and decision-makers beyond political leadership.

For example, while the Government has taken measures to decarbonise the transport sector by increasing investment in public transport and expanding EV infrastructure, broad change will require bold decisions by private companies and state bodies to decarbonise their fleets and encourage new practices to decrease their carbon outputs, both at a broad institutional level, and by reducing the average carbon output of their employees.

This could take place through the continued use of work from home practices and remote working, something which Environment Minister Eamon Ryan TD has outlined is a key enabler to his vision of 15minute towns and cities which can enable a reduction on reliance on private cars.

New roadmap outlines the HSE pathway to decarbonisation

The

Health Service Executive (HSE) have unveiled a new roadmap to adhere to decarbonisation targets set out in the Government’s Climate Action Plan.

Climate Action Plan 2024, published by the Government in 2023, sets out the energy efficiency and energy related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets, which all public sector bodies in the State are legally obliged to meet.

To adhere to these targets, the HSE Capital and Estates launched the Infrastructure Decarbonisation Roadmap, which outlines seven action areas on how they can reduce GHG emissions from the sector by 51 per cent, and improve their energy efficiency by 2030.

Action area one: Continue and enhance the HSE partnership agreement with SEAI and develop leadership roles

In 2018, HSE Capital and Estates entered into a partnership arrangement with the Sustainable Energy Authority (SEAI), which established a joint cofunding memorandum of understanding to progress the energy efficiency agenda in the HSE.

The HSE states it will continue to provide leadership in the area of energy and carbon emissions reduction and will update its Infrastructure Decarbonisation Roadmap annually.

Action area two: Regional Energy Bureau, Energy Management Teams and Shallow Retrofit Programme

The HSE’s aim is to increase the number of local energy management teams, with a target of 165 teams by the end of 2024, with 138 energy teams in place and supported at the end of Q4 2023.

The HSE states it will ensure that the energy management teams are incorporating staff workshops and supported energy retrofit minor capital programmes.

Action area three: Energy efficient design (EED) process and net carbon zero ready design

This area will see the implementation of

an EED and carbon zero ready design approach for all capital works including a national training programme.

Action area four: Deep Energy and Carbon Retrofit Programme

The HSE plans to progress a Deep Energy Retrofit Programme, targeting existing buildings to decarbonise appropriate elements of the health portfolio. This will include replacing fossil fuels with renewables and electrifying heat and transport.

Action area five: Metering, modelling, reporting and energy management systems

The HSE states it will develop metered data and utility supplier data including integration with the new National Estates Information System.

Action area six: Behavioural Training and Learning

As outlined in the roadmap, the HSE will continue a programme to develop advice, guidance and training support to reduce energy and to conserve water.

Action area seven: Support to the wider HSE Climate Action Strategy

As part of the HSE’s wider climate action strategy, the roadmap will provide support to the implementation of the strategy in areas of transport and mobility, sustainable procurement, greener models of healthcare, waste management, adaptation and resilience.

The roadmap forms an integral part of the HSE Capital and Estates Strategy and Implementation Plan 2022-2050 in addressing the estates objective for net carbon zero by 2050. It has outlined the work undertaken by the HSE Capital and Estates to date and their continued approach to achieve the targets set out in CAP24 through reduction of carbon emissions from their buildings and their operation, by reducing energy usage and shifting the HSE’s energy sources from fossil fuels towards renewable and carbon zero energy sources.

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Minister of State Alan Dillon

TD: Transforming Ireland’s planning system

Never before have we been at such a crucial juncture in terms of planning and infrastructure in Ireland, writes Alan Dillon TD, Minister of State for Local Government and Planning at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

The first draft revision of the National Planning Framework (NPF) since it was published in 2018, and the recent signing by President Higgins on 17 October 2024 of the landmark Planning and Development Act 2024, mark a pivotal moment in our collective efforts to ensure we have a planning system that is fit for purpose, both now and into the future.

The planning system is significant to nearly every aspect of people’s lives, from housing delivery to critical infrastructure and to future proofing our country to meet the complex economic, demographic, climate, and environmental changes which are already in train.

The new Planning and Development Act 2024 will introduce a number of key reforms to the system, to include greater mandatory alignment of all aspects of planning from both a policy and legislative perspective; improvements to the planning judicial review processes; clearer, more consistent policies and guidance and – longer term – more strategic, 10-year development plans for local authorities and the creation of urban development zones, which will facilitate a

more plan-led approach to development and increase certainty at the master-planning stage.

Ultimately, the new legislation provides clarity, consistency and certainty for all users and planning system which matches our strong ambitions for housing delivery, climate action, and critical infrastructure over the coming decades. Arrangements are being put in place to commence the Act on a phased basis to allow for the smooth operational transition of this legislation across the planning system.

In tandem, a well-resourced, sustainable, and robust planning system is critically important to support this transformation and to meet the requirements on the system that have grown in recent years and my department is actively working with key stakeholders, including An Bord Pleanála (the Board) and our local planning authorities, to ensure they have the staff and resources to underpin this transformation.

In January 2024, the Government appointed Peter Mullan as the Chairperson of An Bord Pleanála for a seven-year term. Furthermore, nine new full term board members have been

Promoting sustainable communities

“We will leave no stone unturned when seeking to build a robust planning system and the planning workforce we need for the Ireland of tomorrow.”

Minister of State for Local Government and Planning, Alan Dillon TD

appointed to date, bringing the current board membership to 17, with a mixture of full-term and temporary members.

These new full-term board members, bring to the board a vast range of experience throughout both the public and private sector in a range of disciplines including in planning, architecture, environment, corporate services, local government, governance, and legal affairs.

Critically, there are now more professionals working at the Board than at any time previously. When all approved posts are filled, over 300 people will be employed, representing an increase in excess of 50 per cent since before 2021.

At a local level, my department, in conjunction with the local government sector, is actively working on a programme of support to increase staffing levels, on a phased basis, across the sector. In October 2023, funding was made available for 101 new posts across the 31 local planning authorities under phase one of the programme. A second phase of the programme is being advanced to provide further additionality to the sector.

Significantly, in recognition of the increasing demands on the planning system and the need to ensure present and future staffing needs can be met, Minister Darragh O’ Brien TD and I published a Ministerial Action Plan on Planning Resources on 15 October 2024. We are committed to ensuring that we have a planning system that can deliver on our priorities in the years ahead and this action plan is another vital piece in the jigsaw that will ensure that we can fully deliver on investment and decision-making in key areas such as housing, climate action, and critical infrastructure.

The Action Plan is rooted in a cross-sectoral response to help to ensure that Ireland’s planning system is fighting fit for the future. Developed in close partnership with the sector including local authorities, the Board, the Office of the Planning Regulator, as well as wider stakeholders; the Action Plan sets out 14 high-level actions that provide a coordinated approach to ensuring a sustainable pipeline of planning and related expertise to deliver on our priorities in the years ahead.

Specifically, the Action Plan addresses the educational pathways to becoming a professional planner with consideration of traditional and new educational pathways. It looks at initiatives relating to recruitment (domestic and international), training, and staff development with the aim of building capacity and resilience within the planning system overall, and considers also measures to encourage greater innovation and improve efficiency across the system. Focusing on the needs of the public sector in the first instance, the plan also takes into account the needs of a growing private sector that is critical to the operation of the system.

My department will shortly be establishing a series of working groups to progress grouped actions of the plan on a priority basis.

Whether it is creating more avenues for professional training, enticing Irish professionals abroad to return home, or making planning a more attractive career option, we will leave no stone unturned when seeking to build a robust planning system and the planning workforce we need for the Ireland of tomorrow.

Ensuring the success of compact development in Ireland: Research by The Housing Agency

The National Planning Framework (NPF) is the overarching policy and planning framework for the social, economic and cultural development of Ireland. The purpose of the NPF is to ensure that as the population of Ireland grows, it does so in a way that is sustainable in terms of its economic, social and environmental impact.

Work undertaken by the ESRI and published in June 2024 shows that the population of Ireland grew by 9 per cent, (422,000 people), from 2016-2022 and may grow by a further 922,000 people up to 2040.

The report finds that net migration is a key driver of this growth and that while all regions are expected to see population increases, these will be stronger in the eastern and midlands region than in western and southern regions, which are expected to experience relatively lower population growth.

The NPF cautions against failure to take a more strategic approach to planning, with consequences including continued sprawl, as well as an ongoing shift in population and jobs towards the east of the country. Urban sprawl is associated with greater car dependency, loss of agricultural land, longer commuting times and higher CO2 emissions.

Pearl District before.

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To avoid urban sprawl, planning for compact development is essential. Compact development, sometimes called compact growth or smart growth, means the development of housing and businesses within or near existing settlements. Compact growth is a National Strategic Outcome in the NPF.

About the research

The Housing Agency’s publication Case Study Analysis for Sustainable Compact Development is the culmination of research, undertaken by Indecon, on how other countries, with a proven track record in compact development, manage to achieve their outcomes.

The research examines compact development in countries or regions that are considered to be good models. Four case studies were identified:

• Aspern Seestadt in Vienna, Austria;

• Nordhavn in Copenhagen, Denmark;

• The Pearl District in Portland, Oregon, USA; and

• Vauban in Freiburg, Germany.

The analysis examined the development process for each site, undertaking interviews with stakeholders, gathering insights on how developments were financed, the obstacles encountered along the way, and how these challenges were overcome. The research investigated what, if any, policy incentives were used to encourage compact development.

What did the research tell us?

The success of sustainable compact development can be seen in The Pearl District in Portland. The report notes: “Within decades, through collaboration between public and private entities, the redubbed ‘Pearl District’ has become one of the most sought-after neighbourhoods in the city, as well as one of the most well-known examples of ‘urban renewal’ and ‘compact growth’ in the United States. The area is characterised by the preservation and rejuvenation of many of its original buildings, as well as the presence of trees and small green spaces within its densely populated, urban environment. The district is zoned as mixed-use, and is home to apartment blocks, grocery stores, and coffee shops, as well as office buildings, loft conversions, and recreational spaces.”

The research found that in the case studies examined:

• Most cities impose greenbelts that make development of greenfield sites challenging.

• Significant public investment in transport and other enabling infrastructure is usually required to facilitate large scale compact urban growth developments.

• Districts contain a mix of residential and commercial development, as well as an appropriate mix of private and social/affordable housing. This is staged to ensure an element of ‘organic’ growth in both, rather than commercial development following residential or vice versa.

• Establishment of a development company with the powers and resources to facilitate and coordinate work on large-scale compact urban growth developments was an important factor in success.

• Public investment via development companies is financed by a form of land value sharing. This has allowed the developments considered in the research to finance infrastructure development, pooling of land, land remediation, and other site preparation costs.

• Compact urban growth developments often centre around public amenities such as, a lakeshore, riverside, or harbour. Amenities such as these provide a sense of identity and improve the placemaking and liveability of the developments.

What lessons can Ireland learn from this research?

The research found that the availability of public transport was crucial to the success of these developments and would indicate that in Ireland highdensity compact development would have the most success where there is good public transport and other public infrastructure.

In addition, the existence of a development company was seen as key. These development companies have a focus on delivering specific compact urban growth projects. Previous examples in Ireland include the Dublin Docklands Development Authority and the Cork Docklands Delivery Office.

The research also highlighted the benefits of implementing mechanisms of land value capture, and supportive landuse policies that facilitate land value capture.

Finally, the report provides valuable insights for policymakers in Ireland, as to what may constitute best practice when it comes to achieving compact development.

To learn more about The Housing Agency’s publications: www.housingagency.ie/publications

Pearl District after.

Housing for All delivery revision delayed

The publication of a revision of Housing for All, which had been expected to update the Government’s housing supply target, has been delayed and will likely not be published until after the 2024 general election.

The update to Housing for All was expected to account for new delivery targets recommended following reviews by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), the Report of The Housing Commission, as well as an update to the draft revision of the National Planning Framework, which both recommend that the Government’s housing delivery targets increase to account for higher-than-expected demand.

The Department had been expected to publish its housing delivery revision at the end of October, but this has not taken place and there is no indication that this will take place prior to the calling of a general election, with the Dáil expected to be dissolved by 8 November at the latest.

Speaking to eolas Magazine, a spokesperson from the Department of Housing, Local Government and heritage said that the delayed update to Housing for All is “being finalised”, and “will be published in due course”, while saying that the Department is not prepared to comment on when the update will be published.

Speaking to eolas Magazine in June 2024, Minister Darragh O’Brien TD said there will probably be upward revision of the Government’s housing targets.

While O’Brien said that “targets have never been the ceiling”, and have instead “been the floor”, he specified that “it is important that we reset [delivery targets] based on the increasing population”.

Sinn Féin spokesperson on Housing, Eoin Ó Broin TD accused the Minister of “what looks like a massive U-turn”, which he said was “hard to understand given the fact that the data on which the new targets should be set was published by both the ESRI and The Housing Commission months ago”.

Ó Broin further accused the Minister of wanting to make it to the general election without publishing the new figures: “What is the Minister hiding? What does he not want the voters to see? Is it that he knows he cannot significantly increase the targets for social and affordable homes and now wants to conceal that fact from the electorate,” he said.

Promoting sustainable communities

Revision of housing targets

Three recent publications – two designed to inform government policy and one draft revision of government policy – have recommended an upward revision of the Government’s housing delivery targets.

The Report of The Housing Commission, released in May 2024, asserts that there is an existing housing deficit of 235,000 units which should be resolved by 2034. This would require building numbers to increase by an average of 50 per cent per annum in comparison with current numbers. The Commission further recommends that this could be enabled by the establishment of a housing delivery oversight body.

Alongside the existing housing deficit and future demand, the Commission also notes that, while the Government did deliver 32,000 new homes in 2023, that this is set against a backdrop where housing supply previously peaked at close to 90,000 in 2007.

The ESRI’s report, Population projections, the flow of new households and structural housing demand, published in July 2024, has revised figures set out in 2020 by the ESRI which informed the targets set by the Government under Housing for All

The draft First Revision to the National Planning Framework (NPF) – the planning framework for socioeconomic and cultural development of the State out to 2040 – anticipates the need for ~50,000 additional homes each year.

eolas Magazine that he wanted to see the revised NPF “implemented in September [2024]”.

General election

At the time of writing, it is not yet clear when the election will be called, although Taoiseach Simon Harris TD and Tánaiste Micheál Martin have said it will be before the end of 2024, and Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman TD has said it will likely be held on 29 November, which means that 8 November is a likely date for the dissolution of the Dáil.

Housing was the dominant topic in the 2020 election, and led to neither Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil winning the popular vote for the first time in the history of the State, which meant that when the two parties – along with the Green Party –coalesced for the first time, housing became a priority challenge for the Government.

Temporary measures, such as the eviction bans over Covid and the two following winters amid the inflation crisis, proved popular with the public and delivered results by the way of homelessness reductions when they were in place.

The underlying challenge to Ireland’s housing crisis has always been supply challenges. These emanate from a number of key areas, namely that there has been a shortage in construction workers since the Great Recession and collapse of the Irish housing market in 2007.

Housing delivery numbers remain just over onethird of what was delivered in 2007, in spite of the significant increase in demand. While the Government’s Budget 2025 housing measures are specifically targeted towards supply increases, the results of these policies are unlikely to be felt in the short term, meaning that housing is a topic of public discourse which is not going away anytime soon.

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The state of the private rental market

The private rental sector, the sector of housing which has seen the largest growth since the 1990s, is facing challenges of meeting the demand for affordable housing, a government review says.

The review, published by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in July 2024, states that the private rental market plays a “pivotal role” in accommodating over 330,000 households, making up 18 per cent of all housing in Ireland. Since the early 1990s, the sector has grown considerably, largely due to changing demographics, economic migration, and urbanisation.

Despite its growth, the sector faces persistent challenges such as affordability challenges and rising demand. In recent years, rent levels have surged, exacerbating financial pressures on renters. Nationally, new tenancy rents rose by 9.1 per cent as of the fourth quarter of 2023, while existing tenancies increased by 5.9 per cent.

Although rent has risen across the country, the report highlights the stark difference between rents in and outside Dublin. In Dublin, the average rent for new tenancies reached €2,098 per month, compared to €1,280 outside of Dublin. This disparity reflects the city’s concentrated demand and constrained supply, leading to a critical need for policy intervention to address affordability and supply bottlenecks, particularly in urban centres.

Policy recommendations

The review outlines several policy objectives essential for a wellfunctioning rental market. These include creating economic conditions favourable to investment, ensuring security of tenure, maintaining affordability, enforcing property standards, and implementing effective regulation.

1. Encouraging investment and supply: The review acknowledges that sustaining a functional private rental sector depends on a steady flow of new housing stock, particularly in high-demand urban areas. Housing for All targets an annual delivery of 33,000 new homes, with specific incentives for cost rental schemes. However, inflation in construction costs, highdensity planning requirements and a labour shortage in the construction market have presented challenges. As a response, the review calls on government to pursue policies to attract both domestic and international investors to boost the rental market.

2. Affordability initiatives: Aiming to address the affordability crisis, the Government introduced the Cost

Rental Scheme, offering below market rates to qualifying tenants. The review recommends expanding eligibility for this scheme to include households slightly above the income limits for social housing. Rent control policies, such as the rent pressure zones (RPZs), are also under evaluation to assess their effectiveness in controlling rents without discouraging investment.

3. Security of tenure: The review encourages the adoption of policies that strengthen security for renters, particularly by reducing no-fault evictions and incentivising landlords to offer longer-term leases, especially in cases where institutional investors own large property portfolios.

4. Property standards: Ensuring the quality of rental properties remains a priority. Local authorities are required to inspect 25 per cent of properties annually to verify compliance with safety and maintenance standards. Furthermore, new energy efficiency standards, starting in 2025, will require rental properties to meet a minimum Building Energy Rating (BER).

Promoting sustainable communities

Housing tenures in Ireland, 2006-2022

Source: DHLGH

5. Strengthening regulation: The review calls for a periodic assessment of the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) to ensure its effectiveness in handling disputes and enforcing regulations. It also advocates for increased resources and authority for the RTB to monitor and address compliance issues in a timely manner.

Potential policy changes

In response to persistent rental inflation, the report identifies several avenues for policy reform:

• Incentives for long-term investment: Acknowledging the high costs associated with highdensity developments, particularly in Dublin, the review recommends incentives for long-term capital investment in the rental sector, including potential tax reforms for non-corporate landlords.

• Revamping rent control: While RPZs have moderated rental increases in certain areas, the review highlights their mixed impact, with instances where they may act as target prices instead of ceilings. The Government recently extended RPZs until the end of 2025 but has committed to a comprehensive review to evaluate their long-term effectiveness.

• Periodic review of the RTB: Recognising the RTB’s critical role, the review suggests routine evaluations to address any operational gaps and to adapt to the evolving needs of the sector.

• Raising awareness and compliance: With 89 per cent of rental properties found noncompliant upon initial inspection, a recommendation is made for the RTB to enhance its educational

efforts toward landlords, ensuring better adherence to rental standards and reducing the incidence of disputes.

Overall, in the context of rising rents, limited housing stock, and ongoing regulatory challenges, the review asserts that the private rental sector requires a “balanced approach to support renters and landlords alike”.

The review emphasises that policies should be aimed not only at regulating the market but also at fostering a stable environment for investment, ensuring sustainable affordability, and safeguarding tenants’ rights. By prioritising these policy objectives, the review says that a future revision to Housing for All will aim to create a fair, resilient, and accessible rental market.

A landmark development

The Land Development Agency’s first affordable housing project on state-owned land is a ‘testament’ to what can be achieved.

On 20 September 2024, Taoiseach Simon Harris TD and Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien TD, officially launched the first phase of Shanganagh Castle Estate near Dublin’s Shankill.

The new housing development is a joint project between the Land Development Agency (LDA) and Dún LaoghaireRathdown County Council (DLR). It consists of 597 affordable purchase, cost rental and social homes and its delivery is a landmark moment for the LDA for two key reasons.

The estate is the largest state-delivered housing project in decades and the first to be directly delivered by the Agency on state-owned land. It also serves as a tangible example of the LDA’s vision and its mission to develop not just new homes, but new, high quality, well-served and sustainable communities.

The first phase of the estate had been delivered on time and on budget, just two years after the sod-turning event on the DLR-owned site. Shanganagh is just one of a significant pipeline of LDA developments that can deliver at least

18,000 homes in the coming years.

The State’s affordable housing body delivers through two main channels. The first is direct delivery and involves the development of housing on state-owned or acquired land in which the LDA either oversees the entire project or partners with local authorities to build on land they own.

The second involves housebuilder partnerships, where the LDA partners with homebuilders and provides the financial impetus required to complete housing projects.

LDA Shanganagh Castle Estate.

Significant progress is now being made on both fronts. The latest update shows there are 20 direct delivery projects involving over 10,000 homes at various stages from design and planning though to enabling works and construction.

In addition to Shanganagh, work is well underway at St Kevin’s Hospital in Cork and Devoy Barracks in Kildare. By year end, construction will have started on at least two further sites at St Teresa’s Gardens and Cromcastle in Dublin.

Meanwhile, the LDA has already delivered or is in the process of delivering over 3,000 homes through its homebuilder partnerships with a further 5,000 planned by 2028.

At the same time, the Agency continues to access more land through transfers from state bodies, market acquisitions and increasingly through partnerships with local authorities.

This level of activity means the LDA will soon become the country’s largest homebuilder and highlights the Agency’s ability to assist in meeting the country’s housing need.

But it is not just a numbers game. In keeping with its role and remit, the LDA seeks to maximise the potential of the land it accesses to deliver the right type of housing in the right place at the right price, something it has clearly achieved in Shanganagh Castle Estate.

Of the 597 homes involved, 200 are social apartments and 51 are affordable purchase homes. There are also 40 affordable purchase and 306 cost rental apartments. The housing mix includes homes suitable for individuals, couples and families, with a total of 99 threebedroom houses and apartments.

With the application of government supports through equity contributions, prices for the affordable purchase homes in Shanganagh will start at €334,600, which is significantly below their full market price. Rents for the cost rental apartments start from €1,175 a month, which is at least 30 per cent lower than equivalent market rates.

Eligible candidates will have the opportunity to secure a new home in a superb location next to Shanganagh Park and near to both Shankill and Bray. There will be a creche, café and community facilities within the estate with a host of shops, services, gyms, sports clubs and golf courses nearby.

Households will enjoy mountain and sea views while those with active lifestyles can explore the area’s hiking trails,

coastal walks and beaches. The estate is next to the N11 and M50 roads and is well-served by public transport. There are regular buses running to and from the city centre and Dún Laoghaire with a new Bus Connects route planned.

The nearby Shankill DART station provides access to Dublin city centre, and a new station is being developed at Woodbrook, which is a 10 minute walk from the estate on a dedicated route through Shanganagh Park.

There are also a number of primary and secondary schools in the area, including Scoil Mhuire, Woodbrook College, St Gerard’s School, Presentation College, St. Killian’s, and Loreto Secondary School.

In addition to a wonderful location, residents should also enjoy low-cost living in what will be one of Europe’s largest passive housing schemes, once fully completed.

While the apartments are passive, the houses are all A-rated, with features such as heat recovery ventilation and air to water heat pumps. They are also wellinsulated with excellent indoor air quality.

Active travel and community integration was a key consideration for both the LDA and DLR, with a focus on bicycle parking provision, working from home features, communal green and play spaces.

The LDA’s focus on sustainability was also a key factor in the construction

methods used to deliver the development.

Walls Construction, the contracted developer, deployed precast concrete and other prefabricated elements to reduce labour and improve efficiency. This resulted in fewer deliveries to the site, reduced waste and increased precision with less cutting and drilling needed on site.

The materials excavated in the construction process were reused to develop roads, promoting circularity while great care was taken to prioritise and protect the location’s plants and wildlife to the point where the development is expected to have a net positive impact on the area’s biodiversity.

Speaking at the launch event, LDA Chief Executive John Coleman said the project was a major development for the LDA. He thanked both DLR and Walls Construction for their work in delivering the project and the government for funding the LDA’s work.

Taoiseach Simon Harris TD said the delivery of affordable housing on stateowned land was a priority for the government and that Shanganagh Castle Estate was a “testament to what can be achieved”.

For more information: W: www.lda.ie

LDA Shanganagh Castle Estate.

Defining the annual housing delivery target

The Government, research bodies, housing experts, and opposition parties have established a consensus on increasing unit delivery to solve the State’s housing crisis. However, the publication of several reports on housing demand, as well as the stances of the different political parties, means that there is ambiguity as to what exactly the housing delivery target should be.

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ESRI: Population projections, the flow of new households and structural housing demand

The report determines that between 35,000 and 53,000 new dwellings will need to be constructed per annum by 2040, considering different models of population projections, the projected structure of households, and future economic growth. The report further specifies that the bulk of this new demand will be in Ireland’s cities, specifically Dublin, with minimal population growth anticipated in rural parts of the State out to 2040. This piece of research carried out by the ESRI has been used by the Government to inform the draft revision of the National Planning Framework.

Government policy

The Government’s housing measures in Budget 2025 are focused on the key theme of increasing housing supply. At the time of writing, the Government’s housing delivery target remains at 33,000 per year, under the auspices of the Government’s flagship housing policy, Housing for All

However, an update, due to be published in Autumn 2024, to Housing for All is likely to include an updated target. Indeed, the recentlypublished draft revision of the National Planning Framework –currently out for public consultation – has projected an average housing need of 50,000 per year to 2040.

Report of The Housing Commission

The Report of the Housing Commission, released in May 2024, asserts that there is an existing housing deficit of 235,000 units which should be resolved by 2034. This would require building numbers to increase by an average of 50 per cent per annum on current numbers. The Commission further recommends that this could be enabled by the establishment of a housing delivery oversight body.

The Commission does not specify what the number of homes built per annum should be but does state that it needs to be “scaled up”, and recommends enhancing the powers and resources of local authorities, in particular, it calls for local authorities to develop ‘land activation units’ “to facilitate and promote strategic development of public and private housing”. Meanwhile, also proposed is a “whole of government” programme of infrastructure delivery aligned with strategic ‘housing delivery zones’.

Draft first revision of the National Planning Framework

Published for public consultation on 10 July 2024, the draft review intends to update the NPF to reflect changes in government policy, not least in climate action, regional development, demography, and digitalisation. With the consultation having closed in September, Minister for Housing Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien TD has told eolas Magazine that he wanted to see the revised NPF “implemented in September [2024]”. At the time of writing, however, this has not taken place.

Promoting sustainable communities

Defining the annual housing delivery target (continued)

Opposition parties’ housing plans

Of the opposition parties, Sinn Féin, the Social Democrats, and the Labour Party have published housing plans with specific delivery targets, while Independent Ireland, People Before Profit, and Aontú have not established housing delivery targets in their housing policy documents.

In Sinn Féin’s alternative housing plan, A Home of Your Own: Sinn Féin’s Plan to make Housing Affordable, released in September 2024, the party has proposed delivery of 300,000 houses by 2030, with 46,500 built in 2025, 53,000 in 2026, 59,750 in 2027, 66,750 in 2028, and 74,000 being built in 2029. The party further states that these figures “must be revised regularly and amended as new information becomes available, including levels of private sector output, demographic change, and economic conditions”.

The Sinn Féin plan further recommends the establishment of a housing needs demand assessment group which would include representation from the Central Statistics Office, the ESRI, and The Housing Agency to monitor progress and assess demand on a continual basis.

The Social Democrats, in their affordable housing strategy, Homes Within Reach, published in October 2024, have said that they would deliver 50,000 affordable purchase homes and 25,000 cost rental homes over five years, and that this would be “in addition to private sector delivery and a ramping up of the construction of social housing”.

The Labour Party has called for the delivery of one million new homes over “the next decade”. This would involve construction of 50,000 new houses per annum for 10 years, as well as the deep retrofit and restoration of 50,000 vacant and derelict properties per annum. Census 2022 records that there are around 166,000 vacant houses in the State.

Analysis

The Government’s Housing for All plan set out the target of increasing supply to 33,000 per annum annually until 2030, based on ESRI projections for housing demand in 2020. While the Government has met this target, which actually exceeds the 26,000 initially proposed by the ESRI, subsequent studies have shown that there is an overwhelming consensus on the need to revise the Government’s targets.

The opposition parties have a shared consensus that at least 50,000 homes per annum are needed. Speaking to eolas Magazine in June 2024, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien TD said: “When I took over as Minister, we were in a situation where there were less than 20,000 homes delivered a year. We were in a situation where we had 10 years of very significant undersupply. In the first two years of Housing for All, we have exceeded the target substantially and we have built 110,000 new homes at the end of Q1 this year [2024].”

O’Brien added that the Government’s priority is “to accelerate that progress, keep the strong focus on social housing delivery”, and outlined that his target for 2024 was 34,500.

However, with the publication of the next Housing for All progress report due in the autumn of 2024, it is certain that there will be an upward revision of this target set by the Minister.

Exactly what this target will be, however, is unclear, as the opposition, sectoral experts on The Housing Commission, and – under some projection models – the ESRI, have recommended a significant upward move on the Government’s supply targets. While it is safe to assume the Government will revise its targets upwards, anything less than a target of 50,000 per annum may be met with scepticism by the opposition and housing experts.

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How research can shape effective housing policy

Research plays a critical role in shaping effective policy and serves as the foundation upon which sound decisions are built.

Being a centre of housing knowledge and helping to inform policy and practice have been among The Housing Agency’s strategic objectives since its establishment. By grounding policy in thorough research, it leads to strategies that are practical, sustainable and responsive to the needs of society.

At The Housing Agency, we balance proactive research such as the Survey of Attitudes, Experiences and Aspirations with reactive work such as the annual Summary of Social Housing Needs Assessments which we carry out with local authorities for the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. We also balance the work we do in-house with commissioned work from outside researchers through our Research Support Programme.

The Programme was established four years ago to support research that could help inform policy or practice. Each year, the themes it supports are linked to The Housing Agency’s strategic objectives. So far, the Agency has funded over 20 projects on a variety of topics such as sustainability, homelessness, cost rental and energy deprivation.

Another feature of our research that is important to us is around dissemination. Our research is available on our website and we submit survey data to the data archive so that others can use it.

It is also important to bring researchers together to discuss their work. With this in mind, in September The Housing Agency hosted our inaugural Research Seminar to share research about housing and build networks within the housing

research community. Delegates from NGOs, public agencies, private corporations, and universities attended.

David Silke, Director of Insights and Operations at the Agency and Interim CEO, opened the Plenary session with an overview of the Agency’s Research Support Programme. There then followed thought-provoking presentations by Paula Mayock of Trinity College Dublin and Ken Gibb of the University of Glasgow and the UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence (CaCHE). Mayock described the unique role that qualitative research plays in providing deep insights to inform policy and practice. Gibb shared housing research from Scotland.

The seminar also included workshops which discussed housing solutions to support inclusive communities, sustainable supply, the private rented sector, and compact development planning. Delegates discussed collaboration and identified a gap in housing data, with a need for a centralised repository. Developing a network of housing researchers was also discussed.

Regarding research dissemination, delegates identified a need to deliver and consume easily digestible updates to reach both wider and more targeted audiences via channels such as podcasts and blogs. Delegates expressed an eagerness for the Housing Agency Research Seminar to become a regular event and to provide opportunities to network and exchange research.

Details of the Agency’s research, Data Insights series, and Research Support Programme are available: www.housingagency.ie

A European housing policy perspective

Dara Turnbull, research coordinator at Housing Europe, compares the housing context in Ireland with exemplar EU member states.

Speaking on behalf of Housing Europe, the European federation of public, cooperative, and social housing, Turnbull unpacks Delivering on housing in Ireland: A European policy perspective. Commissioned by the European Parliament’s Renew Europe group, the report examines the context of the State’s housing sector relative to other European states and offers potential solutions for decision-makers.

Ireland’s housing crisis has several elements, but the most consistent theme is that the cost of housing is outweighing wage growth, thereby making home ownership and rents inaccessible or unaffordable for many Irish residents.

For prospective homeowners, for example, statistics from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) and the

Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, show that the average house price increased from €40,283 in 1990 to €311,514 in 2022, a growth of almost a factor of seven or a 673 per cent increase.

Meanwhile, the average annual earnings in the Republic in the same period grew from €25,811 to €66,914, a 159 per cent increase. This disparity between wage growth and house prices has meant that, whereas in 1990 the average house price was around 56 per cent higher than annual earnings, house prices are now around 4.65 times greater than annual earnings.

Supply shortfall

Housing Europe’s report determines that Rebuilding Ireland, the Irish Government’s previous housing strategy, had a goal of building 25,000

new homes per year, but that “actual output was only around 76 per cent of that”.

Although the housing crisis is being exacerbated by undersupply, delving into these building statistics, Turnbull asserts that the area of most significant underdelivery was primarily in private sector construction.

“A relative overdelivery by the public sector has helped to compensate for an underdelivery by the private sector,” he says.

“Government needs to be more aware of the direct policy levers that it has over public housing policy versus demand side incentives and schemes which are not necessarily leading to delivery of infrastructure.”

Promoting sustainable communities

Affordability disparity

Examining Ireland’s housing market compared to those of Austria, Denmark, and the Netherlands on housing affordability specifically, Turnbull explains that in Ireland in 2022, around 9 per cent of the total housing stock was classified as social and affordable housing. This figure is significantly below figures of 24 per cent in Austria, around 20 per cent in Denmark, and just under 30 per cent in the Netherlands.

Comparing Dublin with the exemplar state’s capital cities, Turnbull states that the “disparity is even greater”. Around 11.3 per cent of Dublin’s housing stock is classified as being “social or affordable”, while this figure surpasses 40 per cent in Amsterdam and Vienna.

The Housing Europe research coordinator explains that this disparity may well be down to the European practice known as ‘build and retain’. “They build social housing and the objective is to retain the system in perpetuity,” he outlines.

Contrasting this model with Ireland, Turnbull states: “The majority of publicly supported and publicly built housing that we have constructed in the State since the 1930s is now privately owned. We have been very good at building public housing in this state, but we have not been very good at holding onto it, so that is a missed opportunity.”

Meeting cost challenges

To meet the challenge of under delivery by the private sector in housing supply, Turnbull cites a cooperative model utilised in Sweden which could be adapted for the Irish market.

Essentially based on what Turnbull describes as a ‘cost purchase’ principle, the Swedish model is backed up by a national cooperative housing guarantee fund, which enables newly forming local housing cooperatives to unlock the necessary construction loans from commercial banks, which would otherwise not be possible given a lack of collateral to ‘back up’ such lending.

“A local housing cooperative can come together and pool their resources to build new housing. When the development loan is repaid, that lending is refinanced as standard mortgage lending,” Turnbull explains.

Wages/house prices growth comparison in Ireland

As a result, around one in four Swedish primary residences are part of the cooperative housing sector.

Housing for All

In 2023, the Government met its overall housebuilding target under its Housing for All policy of constructing 30,000 homes, and Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien TD has expressed his confidence that a similar number will be achieved in 2024.

Turnbull warns of a potential “dark cloud” for construction, as the raising of interest rates by the European Central Bank may prevent private construction from playing an optimal role in house building due to prospective inadequate yields.

As interest rates are likely to reduce through the course of 2024 as inflation is projected to decline, there may be long-term optimism that supply will increase in the Irish housing sector which is the ultimate key to solving the state’s housing crisis.

However, Turnbull states that even if interest rates do decline towards the end of 2024, or in early 2025, they will nevertheless be much higher than in the preceding decade. Thus, other investment will remain more attractive,

Dara Turnbull

Sources: CSO/DHLGH

meaning real-estate will not be as attractive as prior to the ongoing inflation crisis.

He continues: “Given strong protections for tenants, which are completely justified, the long-term return on things like build-to-rent are not as attractive as in the past, when there was effectively no clear limit to potential returns. As a result, the capital value of BTR apartments is today, and will remain in the future, below the actual cost of construction. This effectively means that such projects are not viable.

“Even if interest rates decline, it does not suddenly mean that residential construction kicks back into gear. I think the dark clouds over the sector will not lift so easily. Having said that, it seems that in the Republic, large Approved Housing Bodies have become important purchases of residential developments that had originally been earmarked for large corporate investors.

“The State may be able to pick up some of the development already in the pipeline, but it is not clear how this pans out over the longer term,” he concludes.

Dara Turnbull is the research coordinator at Housing Europe – the European federation of public, cooperative, and social housing, where he has worked since 2019. He is responsible for managing various research projects, and working to promote the uptake of new approaches and best practices by housing providers.

learning works®

Further education and training (FET) at the forefront of future green skills in construction

As we transition to a greener economy, there is an increasing demand in Ireland for green skills in the construction sector, which is already experiencing a significant skills shortage.

The need for new housing and the increasing requirements of environmental performance standards such as nearly zero energy buildings (NZEB) are significantly impacting the sector. These demands also place the FET sector in a leading role to address critical skills and

labour shortages in the construction industry. Research commissioned by SOLAS, the further education and training authority in 2022, outlined the need for over 50,000 new entrants to the construction sector up to 2030. Not only is there a requirement for new entrants but

also for upskilling workers in the newly emerging aspects of construction such as retrofitting and modern methods of construction (MMC).

Future green skills for construction are an integral part of the first National Further Education and Training (FET) Strategy for the Green Transition. Developed by SOLAS in partnership with KPMG, Green Skills 2030 identifies the critical skills gaps impacting Ireland’s ability to transition to a climate across other crucial sectors including agriculture, transport, energy, hospitality, and finance.

In collaboration with key industry stakeholders including professional representative bodies, the 16 education and training boards (ETBs), higher education institutes, public bodies and government departments, the strategy outlines a significant opportunity for the FET sector to bridge the gap between the skills needs of industries such as construction and the ability of our FET system to deliver on those needs.

Green Skills 2030 can empower individuals through targeted training programmes, upskilling opportunities, with industry and tertiary partnerships to support and accelerate the green transition, providing a pathway for workers to ensure no one is left behind as industries evolve.

SOLAS, the state agency responsible for FET, the Safepass scheme, construction skills schemes, and the coordinating provider for craft apprenticeships in Ireland, is working with key partners to drive transformation in the sector and to respond to the critical skills needs of the country as we come towards the end of our ambitious FET Strategy, Transforming Learning

FET and apprenticeships have seen significant growth in demand, with figures from 2023 indicating that one in ten adults in Ireland are involved in either an apprenticeship, construction scheme or another further education course. The FET sector continues to play a key role in driving the national training infrastructure available to deliver on critical NZEB and retrofitting commitments. Fast becoming the go-to place for the development of specialist skills for some of Ireland’s critical industries, FET and apprenticeships are acknowledged as a

Architect, Michelle Barrett, at the NZEB and Retrofit Centre of Excellence at Mount Lucas.

crucial resource to meet Housing for All and climate action targets.

Collaborations with these key partners are driving enhancement of the construction training infrastructure and the implementation of new and comprehensive construction skills pathways for NZEB, MMC, Certified Passive House construction and digital construction skills.

A critical focus has been to ensure that FET can adequately support the delivery of future green skills for construction. Key developments have included the establishment of the Modern Methods of Construction demonstration park at the National Construction Campus at Mount Lucas, as well as a network of six centres of excellence focusing on NZEB and retrofitting upskilling. These specialist skills centres are located in City of Dublin ETB, Cork ETB, Laois and Offaly ETB, Limerick and Clare ETB, Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim ETB, and Waterford and Wexford ETB.

The network of NZEB Centres of Excellence provide a diverse range of upskilling in NZEB and retrofit. Developed with industry, for industry, courses are delivered in short bursts, with blended learning models available where possible to limit time spent on site.

In addition, the NZEB Mobile Training Unit developed by the National Construction Training Centre at Mount Lucas demonstrates NZEB training nationwide.

There are now over 5,000 people across Ireland trained in NZEB, which is crucial to meeting the target of delivering the retrofitting skills required to retrofit 500,000 homes by 2030.

SOLAS also supports a number of initiatives to meet Ireland’s retrofitting targets, such as the Domestic Heat Pump Installation Incentivisation Scheme. Recently launched by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Patrick O’Donovan TD, the Domestic Heat Pump Installation Incentivisation Scheme provides a financial incentive which will support plumbers to take time off work to upskill as SEAI-registered heat pump installers.

The scheme provides the opportunity for small and medium contractors to upskill their staff, develop additional capacity in this sector, which is experiencing increasing demand, and will ultimately offer an opportunity to current plumbers to future-proof their careers.

Aligned with the Government’s target of installing 400,000 heat pumps by 2030 under the National Retrofit Plan, the scheme is funded by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, via SOLAS, and is administered by Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board. Through the scheme, learners are receiving funding to undertake the Domestic Heat Pump Installation courses delivered by Laois and Offaly ETB, City of Dublin ETB, and Waterford and Wexford ETB. The scheme is open until 1 December 2024.

Construction remains one of the most important sectors where new labour and new skills are required to meet Housing for All and climate action targets. SOLAS is committed to ensuring that the construction sector has the right skills supply necessary to thrive in this changing economy, and that learners have the chance to develop sustainable, meaningful careers.

Find out more at solas.ie/greenskills

Electrical Apprentice, Adrian Bolger, at Mount Lucas.

NZEB tutor Basil Love from Mayo Sligo Leitrim ETB, with NZEB Transition Year student, Emma Kearney, at Mount Lucas.

ESRI: Between 35,000 and 53,000 housing units needed per year

Between 35,000 and 53,000 dwellings must be built per year until 2040 in order to meet projected housing demand, researchers from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) have asserted.

The research, published in July 2024, finds that structural housing demand is projected to be around 44,000 per year from 2023-2030, and around 40,000 per year over the 2030-2040 period.

As international migration is the key driver of population growth in Ireland, additional scenarios are explored that incorporate higher and lower international migration assumptions than in the baseline scenario.

Informed by data including Census 2022, international trends, and ESRI research evidence, the researchers assert that, in a baseline population scenario, estimated structural housing demand in the period 2023-2030 ranges from around 38,000 to 50,000 per year depending on assumptions

around household size and obsolescence rates.

In a high migration scenario, the estimates range from around 41,000 to 53,000 per year, while in a low migration scenario, the estimates range from 35,000 to 47,000 per year.

The ESRI’s findings present significant challenges and opportunities for policymakers. The expected rise in housing demand, particularly in urban areas, calls for a proactive approach to ensure adequate supply. Key considerations include:

• Aligning housing supply with demographic trends: Rapid population growth and smaller household sizes will necessitate a diverse range of housing options,

particularly in areas experiencing higher growth.

• Addressing obsolescence: With a significant portion of the housing stock ageing, policies must focus on maintaining and upgrading existing housing while ensuring enough new supply.

• Planning for regional disparities: Policymakers must account for the uneven geographic distribution of demand, ensuring that rural and urban areas receive appropriate levels of investment in housing infrastructure.

Population growth

Ireland has experienced one of the highest rates of population growth in

Promoting sustainable communities

“Around 44,000 new units a year are necessary to keep with population growth.”

Adele Bergin, Associate Research Professor, ESRI

the EU, with a 9 per cent increase from 2016 to 2022. This surge has been largely fuelled by net migration, which remains a volatile and significant driver of demographic changes.

The report outlines three population scenarios – baseline, high, and low migration – to project future population growth. Under the baseline scenario, the State’s population is expected to increase by 922,000 people by 2040, reaching 6.1 million. However, projections are sensitive to migration trends, with population figures ranging from 5.9 million to 6.3 million depending on the range of migration projections.

At a regional level, the eastern and midlands region, especially the Dublin and mid-east areas, is expected to experience the highest population growth. Conversely, the northern and western regions are anticipated to see slower growth. This uneven distribution will place varying pressures on regional housing markets, with areas like Dublin requiring significantly more housing infrastructure.

Household formation:

Headship rates and household size

Household formation, which is influenced by headship rates – the proportion of individuals heading a household, is cited by the researchers as a key metric in determining housing demand. Household size is inversely related to headship rates; a decline in household size leads to an increase in headship rates, thereby increasing the demand for housing units.

Between 1996 and 2022, the State recorded a modest rise in headship rates, but this trend has plateaued since 2016.

The report outlines two key scenarios for headship rates moving forward: a “current trends” scenario where household size remains stable at 2.6, and a “fall in household size”

scenario, which would see average household size fall by 0.16 over the period.

The second scenario aligns with patterns observed in other European countries and would suggest a higher demand for housing if it materialises. The underlying drivers of household size include demographic factors like fertility and age structure, but housing supply constraints could also impact the pace of household formation.

Housing stock obsolescence and replacement needs

Another critical component in housing demand projections is the rate of housing stock obsolescence – the natural depreciation of existing housing stock. Obsolescence occurs as buildings age and require replacement to maintain a functional housing market. However, estimating obsolescence rates in Ireland is challenging due to limited data.

The ESRI report utilises several methods to estimate obsolescence, including examining the change in housing stock between censuses and incorporating the number of housing reconnections. It estimates obsolescence rates at between 0.25 per cent and 0.5 per cent annually, with higher rates in rural counties. This contributes to the overall need for new housing units, as dwellings lost to obsolescence must be replaced to meet ongoing demand.

Adele Bergin, an author of the report and an Associate Research Professor at the ESRI, says: “Housing demand, both now and in the future, has significant implications for housing policy in terms of the number of housing units required and the areas they are needed. Our research shows that on average, across a range of scenarios, around 44,000 new units a year are necessary to keep with population growth.”

Respond: Delivering homes at scale

Respond, Ireland’s largest construction-led Approved Housing Body (AHB) and service provider, plays a crucial role in addressing the housing crisis by building homes and fostering sustainable, inclusive communities.

With a commitment to providing high quality homes, Respond is focused on scaling housing solutions through its construction-led model. With 82 per cent of its housing activity focused on construction, Respond is a leader in driving the national housing supply, currently managing over 7,761 homes for 17,000 tenants. By the end of 2024, Respond is on track to expand its housing portfolio with 4,000 social and cost-rental homes under construction nationwide.

A construction-led approach

Respond’s construction-led model is key to its ability to deliver homes at scale. By purchasing sites and managing construction through fixedprice contracts, Respond saves up to €65,000 per home compared to turnkey properties. This allows

for greater financial control while ensuring high-quality standards.

A dedicated in-house team of architects, planners, quantity surveyors, and construction managers ensures that projects are delivered on time and within budget. The organisation’s €2 billion housing programme aims to provide high-quality homes for thousands of families as part of a long-term strategy to address the housing shortage and create sustainable communities.

Major developments in Dublin

Respond’s large-scale Dublin developments are central to its housing strategy, focusing on high-demand areas with a mix of social and costrental homes. Among these, Airton Road in Tallaght is a standout project. Developed with Ardstone and Walls Construction, this project will deliver 502 apartments, ranging from one to three bedrooms, across six blocks. The development also features retail units, a crèche, open spaces, and energyefficient designs, making it a prime example of Respond’s integrated community-focused approach.

Parkleigh in Seven Mills, located along the Grand Canal, is another major development. This project is part of the Clonburris Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) and will deliver 372 homes split

between social and cost-rental tenures. These A2-rated energy-efficient homes are family-friendly and located minutes from Liffey Valley Shopping Centre, offering residents convenience alongside modern living.

Rathbourne Wharf in Ashtown is Respond’s largest development, delivering 725 homes upon completion. Of these, 326 will be social homes, and 399 cost-rental units. The mixed-use site also includes commercial spaces such as a food store, café, and crèche, with public open spaces for residents. This project combines residential and commercial needs, enhancing its appeal as a community hub.

Other key developments include Griffin Point on Hole in The Wall Road, with 397 homes (244 social and 153 cost rental), and Piper’s Square in Charlestown, comprising 590 homes built to Passive House standards, including facilities like a crèche, retail units, and a medical care facility. These projects reflect Respond’s broader goal of delivering 2,785 homes in Dublin by 2024, with a mix of 1,460 social and 1,325 cost-rental homes.

These five developments in Dublin are part of Respond’s wider goal to deliver 2,785 new homes in the capital. This total includes 1,460 social homes and

1,325 cost-rental homes, ensuring that a significant number of high quality homes are made available to meet the city’s demand.

Nationwide impact and future plans

While Dublin remains a focal point, Respond’s impact extends nationwide, with 3,015 homes currently under development across Ireland. Respond’s ability to deliver at scale is supported by its partnerships with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the Housing Finance Agency, the Housing Agency, and local councils. These collaborations ensure that Respond has the necessary support to continue expanding its housing supply.

Respond is set to deliver 567 new homes in Dublin by the end of 2024, a significant milestone in its mission to address the housing crisis. These homes will be built through Respond’s construction-led model, which emphasises creating mixed-tenure communities designed to stand the test of time. The organisation’s commitment to placemaking is evident in its Urban Village Placemaking approach, which fosters small, pedestrian-friendly neighbourhoods within larger urban areas, providing not only homes but also

a sense of belonging and community for residents.

Conclusion

Respond’s construction-led approach, combined with its commitment to building large-scale, mixed-tenure developments, positions it as a leader in tackling Ireland’s housing crisis. By focusing on delivering social and costrental homes, Respond is creating diverse, inclusive communities that meet the needs of a wide range of people. As the organisation continues to expand its housing portfolio, it remains dedicated to building sustainable, high-quality homes that will serve generations to come.

T: 01 808 7700

E: info@respond.ie

W: www.respond.ie

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MMC ‘pipeline’ needed to significantly boost housing supply

The promotion of modern methods of construction (MMC) in the residential sector can be a “game changer” in increasing annual housing supply, a report by the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) has stated.

Published to track progress under the Government’s Roadmap for increased adoption of MMC in Public Housing delivery, the report examines the benefits and challenges associated with MMC, and finds that greater potential exists to substantially increase housing supply, while also helping to meet the environmental goal of decarbonising housing stock.

However, also highlighted are a number of existing challenges to the development of MMC for housing in Ireland including, most prominently, that the benefits of MMC are not fully understood, meaning “negative perceptions exist among consumers, developers, funders, and insurers”.

While MMC is a broad category for technological advances and new product development in housing delivery, its distinct characteristic is the offsite manufacture of buildings and their components in a factory setting, alongside follow-on transportation, onsite assembly, and fabrication.

Ireland is projected to need an additional 44,000 units of housing supply per year between 2023 to 2030, and 40,000 units per year between 2030 to 2040, beyond current demand. The 2024 Housing Commission report estimated that to eliminate pent-up demand for housing by 2034, housing completions would need to increase by 50 per cent on average. Despite this, take up of MMC in Ireland is low, with

only 7 per cent of firms saying offsite manufacturing is their main activity.

The report notes that despite a general industry acceptance that MMC can help reduce construction costs, propositions for scaled offsite manufacture will remain unfunded as there are not enough credible projects to bring industrialised MMC housing to market.

Highlighting industry feedback that the market for MMC in housing remains “fragmented and undercapitalised”, there is also evidence of industry optimism that this situation could change quickly with the right investment decisions.

The Chair of MMC Ireland, Declan Wallace, has suggested that MMC and

Promoting sustainable communities

onsite manufacturing companies can quickly increase annual housing output by 25,000 dwelling units, with an MMC pipeline in place to provide certainty.

Of the opportunities that exist in the further adoption of MMC identified by NESC are the expansion of MMC by established Irish homebuilders “to capture its productivity and environmental benefits, especially for timber-based MMC”, the potential to increase inward investment by international MMC companies, and the growth of Irish MMC businesses to supply both domestic and export markets.

However, multiple identified challenges have been identified for the development of MMC for housing in Ireland. Alongside negative perceptions that exist, the NESC report explains that there is a need to work closely with insurance underwriters and experts in relation to emerging and new technologies, to make sure risks are understood, particularly with regard to fire safety and insulation.

Additionally, challenges to further expansion in the use of timber relate primarily to the fire safety and material strength performance for the use of timber in residential construction. The NESC report identifies a call from industry for the need to “reframe the overall public procurement process for MMC in housing to better include specified and designated standard housing typologies”.

Finally, NESC identifies the substantial differences in the finance model for MMC compared to traditional methods of construction, highlighting how the MMC value chain often requires substantial upfront investment in their fixed assets.

“Industry interviewees welcome the Government’s Growth and Sustainability Loan Scheme, although a majority also confirmed that a dedicated policy to build a finance model supporting MMC real estate development activity was not yet forthcoming,” the report says.

Acknowledging the range of current policy, structures, and processes that have been created to support the expansion of MMC in Ireland, NESC identifies six lines of action to further the expansion of MMC:

MMC and onsite manufacturing companies could increase annual housing output by 25,000 dwelling units.

Institutional leadership: Working through more resourced existing structures, develop new MMC initiatives to address impediments to greater adoption in housing supply and renovation; reinforce and strengthen increased supply pipelines of sufficient scale, particularly social and affordable housing; and enable greater State and market collaboration on critical development issues such as standards, housing typology, finance, transport and logistics, and skills and education.

Standards and innovation: Use the Government’s Capital Works Management Framework and procurement process to shape greater housing market adoption of MMC; and research the potential role of a collaborative approach between industry and research bodies for testing and performance requirements for innovative systems.

Targets: Increase the targets and funding for new public housing using MMC under an expanded Social Housing Accelerated Delivery Programme (ADP); set more binding targets around reduced carbon footprints; and assess the investment and development of the human resources required to meet revised targets among public housing delivery partners.

Innovative finance: Consider the creation of a dedicated forward-funding arrangement for MMC in housing to lever increased investment in offsite manufacturing (OSM); guide environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investment towards MMC in housing using fiscal instruments and mechanisms; and expand the role of Ireland’s credit union sector to deliver a dedicated aggregator structure to pool financing from approved housing

bodies (AHBs) for new MMC housing developments.

New employment opportunities: Provide additional supports and incentives to facilitate further upskilling for MMC roles; increase co-ordination and additional resourcing of organisations’ training programmes; and develop and fund more dedicated apprenticeship and internship options for MMC in housing.

Positive promotion: Showcase examples of quality MMC housing typologies, particularly mid- and highrise apartments with efficient circulation including deck-access; deliver new promotional materials to challenge stigmas attributed to prefabrication; make clear that temporary use does not mean poor quality; and, request study and report by Dublin City Council on recent ‘volumetric’ housing schemes in Dublin 8 and 20, where the reception to them is considered to be positive.

Concluding, the report says that beyond the opportunity provided by MMC to deliver housing in a new, adaptive, and sustainable way, additional export and job creation benefits run in parallel with the opportunity to transition to a more circular economy.

“There is a clear need for the State to develop and promote additional MMCspecific initiatives to address impediments to its wider adoption by industry, to facilitate the knowledgesharing among public and private sector stakeholders that can resolve regulatory obstacles and other issues, and to demonstrate the potential benefits of the sector to the construction industry and the wider public,” the report states.

Making Irish homes cosier and more energy efficient

SSE Airtricity is working with governments, local authorities, and domestic customers to support the decarbonisation of homes across the island of Ireland.

Generation Green Home Upgrade

As a leading provider of cleaner, greener energy for homes and businesses across Ireland, we are all about making Ireland a more sustainable place.

Stuart Hobbs is the Director of SSE Airtricity Energy Services (AES), a business dedicated to delivering home energy upgrades and utilising energy efficiency technologies to deliver a cleaner greener environment. SSE AES offers home energy upgrades under a number of different government-funded programmes: SEAI One Stop Shop retrofit programmes, Better Energy Homes, local authority energy efficiency retrofit programmes (EERP), and SEAI Warmer Homes. Up to 1.5 million homes in Ireland are in need of energy upgrades by 2050, as energy efficient buildings are essential to meet our climate action targets. These upgrades typically include external wall insulation, energy efficient windows and doors, attic insulation, heating controls, heat pumps, solar PV and battery systems, and electric vehicle (EV) charging points.

Part of the Irish Government’s Climate Action Plan includes a national retrofit programme aiming to see 500,000 homes, one-third of Ireland’s housing stock, retrofitted to a B2 building energy rating by 2030. SSE AES is supporting the retrofit of 40,000 homes in Ireland over the next 10 years, with around 4,000 upgrades already completed. These works will drastically reduce the emissions of thousands of homes, saving millions on energy costs for consumers and making their homes warmer, healthier. Once delivered, this will equal approximately €20 million in reduced energy costs every year.

1. One Stop Shop:

A Generation Green Home Upgrade from SSE Airtricity is the perfect way to upgrade your home. Hobbs states: “We offer an award-winning retrofit service with a full range of home upgrade options, expert project management and a streamlined grant application process. We have partnered with Ireland’s leading experts in energy efficiency upgrades. From solar PV to windows and doors, internal and external insulation, heat pumps, and EV chargers, we only work with the best. Our customers receive a free home consultation to discuss their home upgrade requirements and receive expert recommendations from our team of specialists. It is one call, it is one job, it is one point of contact.”

2. Local authority energy efficiency retrofit programmes (EERP)

SSE Airtricity has been providing home energy upgrades since 2012, working with SEAI, local authorities and other housing bodies on joint initiatives. SSE AES help local authorities deliver their Energy Efficiency Retrofit Program (EERP) obligations by taking a lot of the hassle and complexity away, enabling

them to deliver larger projects at a better cost and with more flexibility than their own resources might allow. “Over the last decade, we have delivered significant energy upgrades to fuel poor and social housing units, and we have significant ambitions to expand and increase these partnerships. SSE AES’s award-winning service provides a full EERP turnkey solution for local authorities, managing the works from start to finish on a partnership basis with local authorities or housing bodies. We offer pre- and postBERs, full project design, guidance and preparation and management of all tender documents to be fully compliant with EU procurement requirements, including full end-to-end project management.” SSE AES also compiles all certificates and associated paperwork for the local authorities to make a successful claim to the department. In addition, SSE offers financial support to the project in the form of energy credits generated, as well as offering bridging finance for local authority EERP projects. SSE AES has a body of retrofit contractors and resources ready and able to deliver in all 26 counties in the Republic of Ireland.

3. SEAI Warmer Homes

Warmer Homes is a nationwide retrofit scheme administered by the SEAI delivering free energy upgrades for households in receipt of certain government benefits. Energy retrofit measures delivered under this scheme include high energy efficiency heating

systems, ventilation, external wall insulation, attic insulation and in some cases windows and doors – making these homes warmer, healthier, and more economical to run. SSE AES is a registered SEAI Warmer Homes contractor to deliver energy upgrades under this national scheme. SSE AES has delivered over 270 home energy upgrades under this scheme since 2020 across a range of shallow and deep retrofit measures and have recently been successfully reappointed to the SEAI 2023 Warmer Homes Contract, to continue delivering energy retrofit upgrades on behalf of SEAI over the next four years.

Award winning service

SSE AES retrofit programs received awards and recognitions over the past few years for their various retrofit services. Last year alone SSE AES received nominations and secured wins

alongside their local authority partner, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, for their upgrade to 58 units in Beaufort OAP Complex in Glasthule. These included winning the Residential Energy Upgrades Awards category at the SEAI Energy Awards 2023, the Local Authority Innovation Award category at the Chambers Ireland Excellence in Local Government Awards, and achieving the gold award in the Energy Initiative/Project of the Year at the All-Ireland Sustainability Awards. Also our One Stop Shop Service won the "Best Retrofit Service" at the 2024 Bonkers Awards.

For further information on SSE AES programme supports, contact Stuart Hobbs on: T: 087 923 6404 E: stuart.hobbs@sse.com W: www.sseairtricity.com

SSE AES and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council receiving their SEAI Residential Energy Upgrade Award 2023 for the Beaufort Project. (L-R): Darrell Crowe (SSE AES), Stuart Hobbs (SSE AES), Willie Walsh (SEAI), Denis O’Callaghan, (Cathaoirleach, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council), James Ryan (DLR Co Co).

“It is cosier. There was a desperate draught from that door and that is all gone. The heat - and being able to regulate it - is wonderful. It is excellent.” Local resident of Beaufort OAP Complex in Glasthule.

A closer look at Sinn Féin’s alternative housing plan

In September 2024, Sinn Féin published its alternative housing plan, A Home of your Own: Sinn Féin’s Plan to make Housing Affordable, in which it pledges that a Sinn Féin government would deliver 300,000 homes in five years.

Housing is – self-evidently – Sinn Féin’s single most potent policy platform. Speaking at the launch of her party’s plan, Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald TD insisted that it “has the answers for the rental sector, for public housing, and also for the private market”. “We are making a very, very big commitment to people that for a Sinn Féin government this is the number one priority,” she emphasised.

With an emphasis on working people, home ownership, and affordability, the 110-page policy document is a direct challenge to the Government’s Housing for All plan. Across six chapters, the document explores Sinn Féin’s overarching vision and its perspective on housing need; public housing; private purchase housing; adequate housing (including homelessness and sustainability); and housing delivery.

Summary

At a macro level, A Home of Your Own commits a Sinn Féin

government to “make housing affordable and to bring homeownership within reach of working people”. This, the party suggests, entails a holistic transformation of housing in Ireland from how housing is understood and planned, to how communities are established, and to how homes are constructed.

Sinn Féin’s figure for annual housing delivery is 60,000, totalling 300,000 homes over five years. During this period, the party’s projected total cost of its public housing programme between €39 billion and €37 billion for a new build programme and €2 billion for an acquisitions programme. Average annual expenditure, it says, would total €7.8 billion.

The total figure, Sinn Féin says, would be provided for via €25.3 billion in voted capital expenditure (requiring annual Dáil approval) from the Exchequer and €13.7 billion in nonvoted expenditure (not requiring annual Dáil approval) made up of loans from the Housing Finance Agency and others. Annually, this would average €7.8 billion, of which an

Promoting sustainable communities

average of €5.1 billion would be voted and €2.7 billion would be non-voted.

Forming the basis of these costings are the most recent figures available (adjusted for inflation) from DHLGH and Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth on social, affordable, and modular housing delivery. These figures – determined via a series of parliamentary questions submitted by Eoin Ó Broin and Patricia Ryan TD to the relevant ministers –indicate an average Public Housing Fund contribution of €103,000 per affordable purchase home and an average Public Housing Fund contribution of €155,000 per affordable cost rental home.

Affordability, as defined by A Home of Your Own, “means selling homes to eligible purchasers at prices between €250,000 and €300,000 depending on size and location”. This price range, it says, would be reviewed and adjusted according to several variables including “the movement of wages, construction sector inflation, and interest rates”.

Central to its plan for social and affordable housing is a new model for public housing known as affordable leasehold purchase. This plan was covered in some detail in the previous issue of eolas Magazine (65, September 2024).

In a lengthy interview, Ó Broin outlined: “I have conversations with people all around the country about this. The overwhelming majority of people want to buy a home for them, their children, and their grandchildren, at a price they can afford. They are not, in the first instance, buying it and thinking of the windfall gains in 20 years.

“Our scheme allows them to do it; they own the home. The bricks and mortar are theirs, but the land is the State’s, as is the cost of site servicing. Whether you buy an affordable home or you acquire your tenant purchase home, that property is yours and you have all the same rights as any other owner. The only difference is that the State owns the land.”

Vision

In short, Sinn Féin asserts that “everyone should have a home of their own”. Looking beyond the narrowest

Sinn Féin’s major housing commitments

• Deliver 300,000 homes between 2025 and 2030

• introduce a new model for public housing known as affordable leasehold purchase

• Create a Public Housing Fund

• Immediately cease long-term leasing for social housing delivery

• Establish a publicly owned building contractors via the four Dublin local authorities

• Introduce a three-year ban on rent increases

• Temporary (six-month initially) emergency ban on no-fault evictions

• Develop a ‘use it or lose it’ principle for land zoning

• Stamp duty exemption for first-time buyers below €450,000 threshold

• 100 per cent redress for defective block homes and Celtic Tiger-era defects

• End long-term homelessness

• Establish an Active Land Management Agency

• Create an online platform cataloguing all vacant/derelict properties

“The overwhelming majority of people want to buy a home for them, their children, and their grandchildren, at a price they can afford.”

Eoin Ó Broin TD, housing spokesperson, Sinn Féin

definition of a housing unit as a metric, the party recognises the contribution of homes to individual, familial, communal, and national wellbeing.

Simultaneously, the party emphasises its commitment to “bringing homeownership back within reach for working people” and indicates a desire of “halting the decline in homeownership”.

Its vision of a “balanced housing system” means a shift away from the current context in which 84 per cent of all housing is ‘private for profit’ and 10 per cent social to one in which nonprofit public housing constitutes 30 per cent of the system.

While acknowledging that “the role of government is not to promote one form of tenure over another”, A Home of Your Own insists that “its role should be

Promoting sustainable communities

A HOME OF YOUR OWN

SINN

FÉIN’S PLAN TO MAKE HOUSING AFFORDABLE

YOURAHOMEOF OWN

SINNFÉIN’SPLANTOMAKE HOUSINGAFFORDABLE

to ensure that through the delivery of public housing and the regulation and activation of private housing there is a sufficient supply of secure, adequate, and affordable homes to meet society’s needs”.

This means delivering a “sufficient volume” of public homes to meet social and affordable need.

Constitutional right

Sinn Féin also articulates its belief that “having a home of your own is a fundamental human right” and as such should be – pending a referendum –enshrined into Bunreacht na hÉireann. This, it asserts, would have four benefits:

1. clarifying the balance of constitutional rights as per property rights and the right to a home;

2. placing a legal obligation on government to vindicate the right;

3. creating a context of action; and

4. providing those excluded from the housing system with access via a legally enforceable right.

Need

On overall housing need, Sinn Féin disputes the 2020 ESRI projection of between 26,000 and 33,000 new homes needed to meet population growth each year. Based on the 2016 census, this

figure excluded pent up demand or unmet need. Regardless, in 2024, the Government’s current housing delivery target is almost universally acknowledged to be hopelessly inadequate. As such, an update to Housing for All, as per the first revision of the National Planning Framework had been anticipated to set a new target. However, the annual update to Housing for All, which had originally been scheduled to be published in October 2024 (ahead of a general election) has been delayed. In late October 2024, a spokesperson for the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage told eolas Magazine: “It is being finalised. It will be published in due course.”

Meanwhile, the June 2024 Report of The Housing Commission outlined that an estimated range of unmet need (between 212,500 and 256,000 homes) should be included in the Government’s baseline target.

The following month, in July 2024, the ESRI produced an update to its 2020 housing need assessment which – as per government terms of reference –did not include unmet demand. In the ESRI’s assessment, the structural demand informed by demographic change necessitated an average annual delivery of 44,000 new homes from 2024 to 2030 and 40,000 from 2030 to 2040.

As such, Sinn Féin has “accepted The Housing Commission’s assessment of overall need requiring the delivery of 300,000 homes from 2025 to 2030. Of these, it says, “at least 125,000... must be public homes to meet social and affordable housing need” while the “remaining 175,000 homes would be delivered by the private sector”. One interesting proposal is the establishment of a “Housing Needs Demand Assessment group” comprising the CSO, ESRI, and The Housing Agency to update overall housing need data annually.

Conceding that “government cannot control private sector output in the same way as it can with public sector output”, the opposition party proposes a “rebalancing of private sector output in favour of homes for sale to owner occupiers”. In pursuing this, Sinn Féin indicates that it will “work with the private residential development sector to reduce the size of the private rental sector as a percentage of overall stock with the objective of delivering an annual average of 23,000 owner occupier homes, 7,000 private rental homes and 5,000 self-build homes.”

Homelessness

Criticising the absence of “comprehensive data” on homelessness (including rough sleepers, those living in emergency accommodation, and the hidden homeless), Sinn Féin has pledged to reconvene the National Homelessness Consultative Committee (NHCC) data subgroup which would agree a “methodology to provide an accurate count of all those people experiencing homelessness” and report quarterly alongside DHLGH’s monthly report on those accessing emergency accommodation.

The party has also committed to a departmental five-year action plan “detailing how the objectives of the Lisbon Declaration will be achieved by 2030”, a temporary (six-month initially) emergency ban on no-fault evictions which would be removed “when the numbers in emergency accommodation have fallen significantly”, a doubling of new Housing First tenancies to 500 per annum, and the phasing out of shared emergency accommodation and an end to the use of hotels and B&Bs as emergency accommodation.

Promoting sustainable communities

Delivery

Sinn Féin supports The Housing Commission’s proposal to establish a Housing Delivery Oversight Executive and, upon entry into government, commits to establishing it “immediately on a non-statutory basis while preparing the necessary legislation”.

On land management, the party suggests that the State requires an “Active Land Management Agency” with a sole focus on the strategic management of public land with ad hoc intervention in the private land market. This body would be equipped with “comprehensive compulsory purchase order powers” and would replace the Land Development Agency (LDA), which the party says, “[has] neither the legal powers nor the singular focus to fulfil its land management function” because, in its assessment, the LDA’s remit had expanded to become a “state-wide residential developer”.

In Sinn Féin’s plan, the LDA’s residential functions and assets would be transferred to an off-balance sheet designated activities company “owned by the local authorities in which the LDA properties are situated”. The rationale is to enable the Active Land Management Agency “to focus solely on land supply and activation without causing any disruption to the current pipeline of developments and contracts currently underway within the LDA”.

Government response

Responding to the alternative plan, senior government figures have been critical.

Speaking to the media in Dublin the day that Sinn Féin’s policy was published, Taoiseach Simon Harris TD accused the party of making “miserly” proposals which are “just downright mean to firsttime buyers”.

“In relation to the opposition party’s proposals, if you can call them that... I think there is a reason they call the document ‘A Home of Your Own’ rather than ‘A Home You Own’ because it is an almost Frankenstein arrangement here in terms of what exactly is the model,” he said.

“So, are we talking about a situation where you can own a home, but you will not own the land on which the home is built? ... We are going to have a house now that you think you own, you will not

own the land on which it is built, and when you go to sell the house, do you need Eoin Ó Broin’s permission? Who can I sell it to? How much can I sell it for? When can I sell it? This is a long way from the home ownership model that is engrained in people in this country. And, of course, all of that, Eoin, is if you can get a loan in the first place in relation to your proposition.”

The following day, on X, Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien TD asserted: “Sinn Féin’s housing plan means they will control how you sell your home, who you sell your home to and at what price. Without owning the land it is on, that is not ‘A Home of Your Own’.”

Speaking on RTÉ’s Prime Time that night, he added: “I have looked at the [Sinn Féin] plan... If I was a first-time buyer watching in this evening, I would be very very concerned because all of the supports that have been brought in place by me and by this government... €100,000 of supports which thousands of people are accessing, Sinn Féin would abolish it, in one fell swoop they would abolish it... and what would they replace it with? A stamp duty measure that is worth about €4,500.”

Furthermore, the Minister’s main thrust of critique is based on the assertion that the affordable leasehold purchase proposal at the core of Sinn Féin’s plan raises challenges relating to the mortgageability of associated properties.

However, talking to eolas Magazine ahead of the report’s publication, Ó

Broin emphasised: “The interesting thing, of course, is that under the Government’s Help to Buy scheme, you do not own your home because they own €100,000 worth of equity in it.”

Indeed, in recent months he has indicated that through his party’s engagement with the Banking and Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI), mortgage finance options under the affordable leasehold purchase scheme have been outlined by the representative body.

Originally scheduled to be published in September 2024, BPFI’s “detailed proposal” on Sinn Féin’s alternative plan – including any challenges relating to mortgageability that are identified –remains highly anticipated though unlikely to be published this side of a general election, in spite of Minister O’Brien’s interventions.

In the meantime, the forthcoming general election will force the electorate to make a decision on the direction of travel for housing policy in the State. As Ó Broin summarised in a discussion with this publication, the coming weeks and months “are going to be about is a debate about two housing plans – the Government’s and ours – and who has the most credible set of propositions for delivering those plans.”

Promoting sustainable communities

Budget 2025: Government aiming to increase housing supply

In its final budget before the dissolution of the Dáil, the Government has focused its housing measures on increasing commencement figures. However, in spite of record levels, there has been no substantial increase in funding for tackling homelessness.

The Government has allocated €6 billion of capital investment for housing, with the most specified target of increasing supply in the aftermath of an ESRI report which called on the Government’s construction targets under Housing for All (30,000 per annum) to be increased to between 35,000 per annum and 53,000 per annum.

Of this €6 billion, the Government has allocated €3.1 billion in exchequer funding, €1.25 billion to the Land Development Agency (LDA), and €1.65 billion to the Housing Finance Agency (HFA).

Minister for Finance Jack Chambers TD, delivering his first budget since he assumed the role in June 2024, emphasised the Government’s aim of increasing housing supply, with Budget

2025 allocating capital funding of just under €2.2 billion (an increase of €257 million on 2024) with the objective of delivering 10,000 new-build social homes (700 additional homes on 2024), under the Social Housing Investment Programme (SHIP), Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF), and Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS).

In addition, government has increased funding to the Cost Rental Equity Loan Mechanism by €145 million, which aims to support the delivery of 1,000 Approved Housing Body Homes under the cost rental scheme.

The Government asserts that 2,165 new social homes will be delivered through various leasing schemes (including Mortgage to Rent and Repair and Lease), delivered by local authorities and Approved Housing

Bodies, a projected increase of 35 from what was outlined in budget 2024.

Sinn Féin finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty TD said that there is a need for government to expand the delivery of social and affordable homes to 21,000 per year.

Although homelessness currently stands at a record high of 14,486, the Government has not allocated any increase for transitional and emergency accommodation for those experiencing homelessness, maintaining the €12 million allocation from Budget 2024. Furthermore, the Government has reduced the allocation for the Rental Accommodation Scheme by €10 million.

One unexpected measure was the announcement by Minister Chambers of a 6 per cent increase on stamp duty

Promoting sustainable communities

for high-value residential property (houses with a value of €1 million or above) of 6 per cent on every cent above the €1 million mark.

However, Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan TD said that the Government needs to introduce a 100 per cent stamp duty rate on any bulk bought houses.

“Allowing existing homes to be bought in bulk drives up house prices, locks out first-time buyers and adds nothing to our overall housing stock. This tokenistic 5 per cent [sic] increase is another example of a government that is all about optics but unwilling to actually stand up to the investment funds,”

O’Callaghan said.

Climate adaption

Under the SEAI National Retrofit Scheme, which commenced in May 2022, the Government is committed to ensuring that 500,000 homes are retrofitted to a B2 or above ‘BER’ rating by 2030, as well as the installation of 400,000 heat pumps in homes through the same time period.

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications Eamon Ryan TD has expressed his satisfaction that over 1,000 homes are being retrofitted per week, with SEAI’s National Retrofit Scheme Q1 report projecting that just under 52,000 will be retrofitted by the end of 2024.

In Budget 2025, the Government has allocated €100 million to adapt the homes of older people and disabled people, an increase of €25 million allocated in Budget 2024.

This has been complemented by €25 million allocation aiming to support adaptation works of 1,800 local authority social homes.

For the Voids Programme, the Budget has allocated €31 million aiming to support the continued transition to a strategic planned maintenance programme for local authority social housing and the remediation of 2,300 void units.

The Government has maintained the €90 million allocation from Budget 2024 to support the retrofitting of 2,500 local authority homes under the Social Housing Retrofit Programme.

Commenting on the Budget’s allocation to residential environmental measures, Minister Ryan says: “There is a sea-change in how we view the environment and this record investment for the department represents a real commitment to making sure that climate

action is working for each and every household in Ireland.”

Remediation of defected homes

Budget 2025’s allocation of €105 million for the remediation of homes affected by defects, although marking an increase of €35 million from what was allocated in Budget 2024, has been met with scepticism by the opposition.

Sinn Féin finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty TD, who has called for “100 per cent redress for those living with defective blocks in Celtic Tiger apartments”, said that “not one penny more has been provided for those schemes, despite them being expanded”.

“For regeneration of inner-city flat complexes and those communities that have been waiting for decades, there is nothing from this Government,” Doherty said.

Analysis

With Budget 2025 marking the final budget of the Fine Gael-Fianna Fáil-Green administration’s term, most analysis have characterised this as a ‘giveaway budget’, aimed at securing support for the Government ahead of the general election soon to come.

Most new funding aims to increase supply, apparently in line with recommendations made by the ESRI, although the Government’s housing policy, Housing for All, formally maintains the target of 30,000 homes being constructed per annum.

Also notable is that, although homelessness is now at a record high, the Government has not installed any new measures to reduce homelessness, in spite of the Government’s formal objective of “eradicating” homelessness by 2030.

The Government’s allocation for spending on increasing supply will likely not bear any fruit before a general election is called, as there is simply not enough time between the budget allocation and the when polls are expected to open at the end of November.

Therefore, if the Government’s objective was to portray an image to the general public of the housing crisis being solved, it is doubtful that this will be the perception among the gerneral public, and housing will be one of the most highly-debated topics as the people of Ireland head to the polls to elect their next government.

Tuath Housing: Quality homes that people can afford

In 2023, Tuath Housing brought a record 2,482 new homes into management for more than 7,000 people, across 16 local authorities nationwide.

Tuath currently has some 5,000 homes on site and in the development pipeline, and is working with its partners to further invest in people, places, and communities. With 14,000 homes in management across Ireland, Tuath has housed 37,000 people nationwide since the not-for-profit housing association let its first built home in 2006.

The organisation underlined its commitment to cost rental housing, growing its cost rental housing stock to more than 600 homes. Tuath has an additional 2,000 homes currently on site, complementing the association’s social housing programme.

Cost rental: Secure rental homes

Cost rental housing is a new housing tenure in Ireland, established under the Affordable Housing Act 2021. It provides long-term, secure rental homes to households who are above the income threshold for social housing eligibility, but whose net income is under €66,000 (Dublin) or €59,000 (outside Dublin).

The rent is based on the long-term cost of building, managing and maintaining the homes on a not-for-profit basis. Rents are calculated over a 40-year period and are a minimum 25 per cent below market rents for comparable new properties.

Tuath delivered 371 cost rental homes in 2023, as we work towards a target of 3,000 homes by end of 2027. This new housing tenure offers a long-term, secure rental option that will contribute to the development of a sustainable housing market and facilitate the creation of mixed tenure communities throughout Ireland.

The positive impact of Cost Rental

The positive impact of Cost Rental homes was measured and reported recently in The Impact of Cost Rental Housing: Security, Affordability and Place, a research piece completed by Michael Byrne (University College Dublin), Cian O’Callaghan (Trinity College Dublin), Sarah Sheridan, and Robert Sweeney. It was published earlier in 2023 in association with Clúid Housing, Respond, and Tuath Housing.

As affordable housing remains a pressing issue in Ireland, the research aimed to establish the impact of cost rental housing on the wellbeing of residents, exploring this through the lenses of affordability, security, and place.

Its survey data showed that 80 per cent of residents feel very secure, and 73 per cent say they ‘never’ or ‘rarely’ worry about eviction. Qualitative data underlines this, with many residents describing their housing as a ‘forever home’ and one describing themselves as ‘having won the lottery’.

Tuath’s Chief Commercial and Development Officer, Martin Loughran, echoed the findings of the research: “Cost rental has provided a vital alternative to the private rental sector and offers long-term security to tenants at an affordable rent in high-quality energy efficient homes. These homes and communities are already proving to have a positive impact on the wellbeing of residents.”

Rolling out cost rental

Just some of this year’s cost rental projects include 49 homes at Mount Neil, a brand new development located in Waterford City, 61 homes in Farranshock Park in Westmeath, 50 in Folkstown Park in Dublin, 28 in Foxwood Barn, Citywest, a development which will comprise 167 cost rental homes in total on completion and 83 in Hollystown in Dublin, part of 250 cost rental homes in this development. On completion of the Kilcarbery Grange scheme in Dublin, Tuath will manage 200 cost rental homes in this development of 1,000 homes, with rents 40 per cent below the average local area rent.

The first cost rental homes in Dublin City were recently launched by Dublin City Council and Tuath Housing at De Verdon Place. As one of the largest public housing developments in the country, it will cater for the needs of over 600 people. Featuring multiple community spaces, including rooftop gardens, an outdoor playground facility and crèche; families, couples and individuals have been moving into their new homes. The 77 A-rated cost rental homes at De Verdon have rents 31 per cent below the local area average.

A sustainable approach

By collaborating with employees, residents and stakeholders, Tuath Housing is committed to sustainable business practices.

The establishment of a Sustainability Team in 2022 signals Tuath’s commitment to build upon strong foundations already established within the organisation. Tuath’s aim is to integrate sustainability across all aspects of its operations and to play a

“As we look to the future, Tuath remains dedicated to pioneering new approaches in the provision of housing.”

Sean O’Connor, CEO, Tuath Housing

role in shaping the sustainable development of the AHB sector.

In 2023, despite having record breaking growth, Tuath recorded a 5 per cent reduction in its carbon footprint on a per property basis. 41 per cent of the stock added to Tuath’s management portfolio in the year was delivered using timber frame or modern methods of construction (MMC), both lower carbon solutions. It also completed energy upgrade works on an additional 185 homes under its retrofit programme and joined Circular Reno, an EU-funded project aiming to implement scalable bio-based deep energy retrofit packages of facade and roof systems using various bio-based materials.

The power of partnership

Tuath is a proven expert at working in partnership, collaborating with local authorities, developers, and financial institutions to leverage all available resources to develop locally tailored, high-quality housing solutions on the ground.

Partnerships play a crucial role in providing large scale, mixed tenure developments. These developments typically include a mix of cost rental, social, and private housing, creating balanced communities.

Tuath’s CEO, Sean O’Connor, commented: “As we look to the future, Tuath remains dedicated to pioneering new approaches in the provision of housing. Our focus on cost rental housing, large-scale mixed tenure developments, utilising modern construction methods and environmentally sustainable practices will continue to drive our efforts to create vibrant, inclusive communities across Ireland.

“We are committed to working closely with all our stakeholders and the communities we serve to ensure that everyone has access to choice and a safe, affordable home.”

To find out more: W: www.tuathhousing.ie

EU and international focus will be on social and affordable housing in coming year

While housing is a national competency and not a competency of the European Union or any international institution, there are a number of key activities that are occurring in the coming year that the housing sector in Ireland should be aware of, and seek to have an active role in, writes Dónal McManus, CEO, Irish Council for Social Housing (ICSH).

Two of these important milestones include the official appointment of the new European Commissioner on Energy and Housing in the coming weeks, and the International Social Housing Festival (ISHF) which will be held for the first time in Dublin on between 4th June and 6th June 2025.

A new European Energy and Housing Commissioner

The focus on housing as part of a new European Commission brief on Energy and Housing is significant. It is a reflection what is happening in many

parts of the EU, particularly in cities which has manifested in many member states with severe housing affordability problems for certain target groups, the increased need for social and affordable housing, increased levels of homelessness, and the need for energy retrofits in the housing sector to meet climate action targets both nationally and within the EU. Many Individuals and families are facing new housing realities where they are seeking housing support from the state that they did not previously need state support to meet their housing need. It is estimated by Housing Europe based on Eurostat statistics that 9.6 million full-time workers

in the EU aged between 25 and 34 still lived with their parents in 2020, one-infive of this group. Ireland had a particularly high level living with their parents.

Although delivery of housing is not a EU competence under the treaties, there is a significant spill over from EU directives and programmes that impact directly on the housing sector and its delivery. EU public procurement, energy requirements, social inclusion and competition and state aid rules are a range of measures that the Government and housing sectors have to consider in the delivery of new homes and eligibility of households for social and affordable

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD undertakes the Official Launch of Dublin 2025 International Social Housing Festival (ISHF) on the 5 September. (L-R): Pierse O’Shiel, Chair, CHI; Dónal McManus, CEO, ICSH; Sorcha Edwards, Secretary General, Housing Europe; Minister Darragh O’Brien TD; James Geoghegan, Mayor, Dublin City Council; and Tina Donaghy, President, ICSH.

housing at national level. There has been a somewhat Europeanisation of housing in recent decades in certain areas. The Informal Meeting of EU Ministers responsible for Housing, now reactivated sharing information, the establishment of active European housing and related networks such as Housing Europe, Feantsa, Eurocities, ENHR (EU housing research network) have provided a focus on key housing challenges and often were the catalyst in establishing new programmes and initiatives at Commission level.

The ICSH is an active member of Housing Europe who have sought to ensure the new Energy and Housing Commissioner will undertake concrete measures to support the housing sector to complement and add to what has been undertaken at individual member state level. The call for concrete action includes the European Affordable Housing Plan, an Investment Platform for affordable and sustainable housing, revised state aid rules to reflect wider housing market failure and increase and double social cohesion investment. An additional challenge for Ireland for consideration is the reclassification of the AHB sector in 2018 being included on the state’s balance sheet by Eurostat. With an increased and expanded AHB sector in future, and increased levels of financing required, EU accounting rules and changing rules on expenditure and debt will have an impact on housing delivery mechanisms.

Any new Commissioner on Energy and Housing requires a budget for agreed programmes of measures to implement. It is important that it is not a case of old wine in new bottles for funding but new targeted investments and supports. Ireland can point to previous history of both local authorities and AHBs in successfully utilising EU funding programmes ranging from structural funds, social funds and Interreg programmes to name a few. They have supported everything from upgrading vacant properties to more recently developing new innovation on energy projects.

First ever ISHF in Ireland-Stakeholders working together

Between 4th June and 6th June 2025, Dublin will host the International Social

Housing Festival (ISHF). Dublin follows on from previous ISHF events in Amsterdam, Lyon, Helsinki and Barcelona. The main hub for the festival will be the Dublin Convention Centre and will also include site locations and events around the four Dublin local authority areas. In recent years there have been a range of new social and affordable housing projects in Dublin delivered by local authorities, AHBs and the LDA. The event is effectively the World Expo for social and affordable housing and will include delegates, speakers and participants attending from Europe and throughout the world.

In Barcelona in June 2023, Dublin was conferred with the right to host the next ISHF in Dublin 2025. Minister Darragh O’Brien TD, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage accepted the handover on behalf of Dublin from the organisers in Barcelona. The ICSH led the initiative for the ISHF Dublin 2025 with support from Housing Europe and CHI as well as additional support from The Housing Agency, the HFA, HDCO, four Dublin local authorities (DCC, SDCC, Fingal CC, Dún Laoghaire Rathdown, Fáilte Ireland, and UCD to promote Dublin as a host City for the international festival. The festival will be an inclusive event and will include a range of stakeholders with an interest in social and affordable housing ranging from the public and private sectors to

local communities. To date, there has been huge support and assistance from the Minister, his officials, the local authorities, AHBs, communities as well as public and private bodies, all interested in ensuring that Dublin ISHF 2025 will be a highly successful global event for social and affordable housing. It is timely, as many countries throughout the world are collectively experiencing significant challenges with social and affordable housing and homelessness, yet there are major programmes and new initiatives being developed in countries to meet these challenges and these can be shared at Dublin ISHF 2025.

It is important that all stakeholders are aware and promote this event as it is a one opportunity for Dublin and Ireland to host this global event and have major mutual exchanges of a range of housing-related challenges.

For more information contact:

Dónal McManus

CEO, Irish Council for Social Housing and Chair of Housing Europe EonFin and Internal Market Working Group

W: www.socialhousingfestival.eu

Minister Darragh O’Brien TD accepts the handover in June 2023 in Barcelona from Barcelona to Dublin as host city for the Dublin 2025 ISHF with representatives from previous host cities of Amsterdam, Lyon, Helsinki, and Barcelona.

Promoting sustainable communities

Nearly 7 per cent of State’s children in ‘housing need’

235,659 people – 4.4 per cent of the State’s population – have an ongoing housing need, of which 92,116 (or 39 per cent) are children, according to a report by the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO).

In its report, Social Housing – Ongoing Need 2023, published in August 2024, the PBO estimates that at the end of 2023 there was a minimum of 235,659 people making up the households with an ongoing need, this equates 4.4 per cent of the total population (as per Census 2022).

Within the 235,659 figure are an estimated 92,116 dependent children (under the age of 18) equivalent to 6.6 per cent of all children aged 18 or under in the State.

Within the ongoing need, children account for 39 per cent of individuals living in either HAP funded accommodation or in households on a social housing waiting list.

‘Ongoing need’ is a term introduced by the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) in 2022 which aims to capture “the cohort of households eligible for, but not yet in receipt of, social housing”. It quantifies the number of households on the social housing waiting lists and lists households in receipt of Housing Assistance Payment (HAP).

The PBO report estimates that there were 115,425 households with an ‘ongoing need’ for permanent, statesupported housing at end-2023 comprising of 58,824 eligible households on the main social housing waiting list, plus, 56,601 active HAP

tenancies. This was down from 116,886 households at the end of 2022 (-1.25 per cent).

The report estimates a cost of €34.95 billion to build new, appropriate, permanent social housing for everyone with an ongoing need. This is an estimated decrease of €57 million from 2022, the net result of higher year onyear construction costs being partially offset by a reduction in households with an ongoing need.

At the end of 2023, there was a minimum of 235,659 people (4.4 per cent of the total population) making up the households with an ongoing need including an estimated 92,116 dependent children (under the age of 18). This is equivalent to 6.6 per cent of all children aged 18 or under in Ireland.

11.8 per cent of all households in the Galway City Council area had an ongoing need, the highest percentage share in Ireland. Dublin City Council is next at 10.4 per cent.

27.4 per cent of applicants for social housing and HAP recipients, combined, are over the age of 50. 12.2 per cent (6,882 households) of total HAP recipients in Ireland are single and over the age of 50. With this cohort more likely to continue to require state support for housing in future, the costs of providing appropriate housing will

only increase in line with the recipient’s age, as more specialist housing and adaptations may be required.

The report acknowledges that there is a significant disparity between average HAP and new private monthly rents being paid across all counties, demonstrating the difficulties that exist for HAP tenants to source suitable and affordable accommodation.

On a national level, the PBO estimates that the State would need to increase its existing social housing stock by 56 per cent to accommodate all households with an ongoing need. The required increase in Fingal is 105 per cent – the highest in the country.

Currently, there is no published report which sets out the total number of active local authority tenancies in a given year. As such, the PBO recommends that detailed statistics relating to all forms of social housing –new and existing – are published annually.

Speaking to eolas Magazine in June 2024, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien TD said that the Government has fallen short on social housing delivery targets “due to the post outbreak of the war on Ukraine in supply chain and on increased costs”.

Poor housing conditions have serious impact on older people’s health

As Ireland’s population ages, the issue of older people’s housing has never been more important.

Older people are more likely than other groups to live in poor housing. They are also particularly affected by poor housing conditions as they often spend more time at home and therefore face greater exposure to hazards such as falls or being affected by the cold.

In this context, a group of researchers investigated the link between common housing conditions and hazards and the health and wellbeing of older people.

The project was funded by The Meath Foundation and involved a team from Tallaght University Hospital (TUH), Age Friendly Ireland, TrinityHaus, and Building Research Establishment who partnered with a range of organisations

including The Housing Agency, Age Action, South Dublin County Council, Meath County Council, and the Centre for Excellence in Universal Design at the National Disability Authority.

Their report, Housing Conditions and Integrated Care for Older People, was recently launched by The Housing Agency.

The research highlighted three main topics:

• the serious implications that poor housing conditions have for older people in Ireland, the consequences for health and wellbeing outcomes, and the impact this has on the integrated care for older people;

• the urgent need for better housing data, national housing condition surveys and centralised data platforms; and

• the need to support and expand integrated approaches to housing and the care of older people by bringing together key partners including hospitals, the Integrated Care Programme for Older People, local authorities and the Healthy Age Friendly Homes Programme.

The researchers worked closely with the Integrated Care Team at Tallaght University Hospital and held focus groups, conducted expert interviews and gathered case studies.

The hazards facing older people ranged from excessive cold, damp and mould growth to lack of ground floor bathrooms and the risk of falls on stairs or steps.

Despite the importance of housingrelated data, and a relatively high volume of data being gathered by a range of Irish organisations, the researchers found there is no centralised database that collates key data on the condition of Irish housing stock. They say there is a clear need for a housing conditions survey of the housing stock in Ireland at least every five years. In advance of any largescale nationwide survey, they recommend a pilot project involving 1,000 homes across a variety of locations.

Read the full report: www.housingagency.ie/publications

Promoting sustainable communities

Fine Gael’s vision for housing

Everyone in politics and wider society is acutely aware of the challenges we face as a state when it comes to housing. The vast majority of the public also understand that catchy soundbites, slogans, and accusations that only certain parties and policies have the ability to be able to change the dial are very far from reality, writes Senator John Cummins, Fine Gael spokesperson on housing, local government and heritage.

Housing by its nature is multifaceted, with so many interconnected parts. I am always mindful when I listen to ideological and academic debates at the Joint Oireachtas Committee or on our airwaves that they do not get a single house built.

My party Fine Gael is not hung up on ideology, we do not mind who delivers housing so long as it gets built, be that local authorities, AHBs, co-operative trusts, the LDA, public private partnerships or the private sector.

I do not subscribe to the narrow view that state delivery is good and private delivery is bad. All housing units delivered have a positive impact. If three workers who are in a house share move into a purpose-built rental complex, they free that house up for a family, the same goes for purpose-built student accommodation. No segment of housing can be looked at in isolation and what happens in one area can greatly impact another.

The case my party is putting forward is one of progress on key metrics like housing commencements, completions and first time buyers, but we are not blind to the fact that things are far from perfect, just like nothing is perfect in any country when it comes to housing.

The challenges we face from a labour shortage perspective, rising costs of construction and a rapidly growing population are being faced by many countries across the globe.

When Fine Gael came into government in 2011, there was record levels of unemployment, our construction sector

had essentially collapsed, mass emigration of our tradespeople occurred, ghost estates littered our country and fewer than 7,000 housing units were being built in the entire country each year from 2011 to 2014 because no finance was available for construction, developers had gone bust and there were no workers available.

Contrast that to last year when 32,700 housing units were completed. In the last 12 months alone just shy of 50,000 housing units commenced construction, meaning the future pipeline of completions is very strong. 500 first time buyers every single week are purchasing their first home – these are real people, getting keys and moving into their first home.

Housing For All is the Government’s housing policy since 2021. It is the successor to Rebuilding Ireland which laid much of the foundations on which the current policy is built.

Schemes like ‘Help to Buy’ have provided 50,000 individuals and families with up to €30,000 of their taxes back to enable them to have a deposit to purchase or build a new home have been invaluable. While we have expanded and extended the scheme until 2029, opposition parties propose to scrap it.

Similarly, under the First Home Scheme 5,500 people have been issued with approvals, and unlike opposition schemes you do have the ability to have outright ownership of your own home. This is a scheme which was derided by some before the parameters had even been established but has

proven to be an essential support in bridging the gap to home ownership.

The vacant property refurbishment grant provides up to €70,000 in state support to an individual or couple who wish to turn a derelict property into their home. 5,500 applications have been approved under what is a very popular scheme and we want to see this support continue.

On the sharpest edge of the housing challenges we face are those in homeless accommodation. This is why we continue to increase our social housing output. In 2023, 12,000 social housing units were delivered by local authorities and AHBs, the highest level since 1975.

Despite this, it is true to say our homeless figures have remained stubbornly high but within these figures which are real people, we see that the numbers of exits from homelessness and prevention measures implemented to stop people entering homelessness continues to rise each quarter.

Cost rental, a new tenure scheme for middle income earners is now starting to show a good pipeline within the LDA, AHBs and some local authorities like my own in Waterford. Affordable purchase options again are starting to come on stream at scale both through direct build and via partnership arrangements with developers. Croi Cónaithe Cities and the STAR scheme have been implemented to support higher cost apartment development which have viability challenges.

In summary, as a government and as a party, we are acutely conscious that we need to do much more and that is why in the coming weeks we will outline new and more ambitious housing targets.

But targets alone do not ensure delivery, it is about having certainty that schemes and policies that have been developed over the last six years and beyond will continue so that our construction sector can plan within a stable environment so they can continue to grow their output.

Oaklee publishes annual report for 2023/2024 and announces first cost rental scheme

The report highlights a 10 per cent growth in group revenue and a significant delivery pipeline of 1,295 homes at the end of the company’s financial year.

Oaklee recently launched its 2023/24 annual report at the company’s AGM, showcasing the organisations continued commitment to addressing Ireland’s housing needs. The report highlights its focus on building and managing highquality, affordable homes for families, older individuals, and those with specific support needs.

Commenting on the report, Oaklee CEO Sharon Cosgrove said: “This annual report showcases the unique achievements made in 2023/24 across the business, ensuring the continuous provision of social and affordable housing in the years to

come and a financially stable future for Oaklee.”

The report also emphasises Oaklee’s efforts in contributing to broader governmental housing policies, leveraging initiatives like the Capital Assistance Scheme, CREL, and the Government’s Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme, a system which currently places heavy reliance on the use of debt finance.

Utilising these funding models has led to a very promising year for the Oaklee Development Team. We have closed several schemes across Dublin and the

midlands with several already fully tenanted. as per the end of our 2023/24 financial year we had a pipeline of 1,295 (mixture of in signed, in contract, and in negotiation).

The report also highlights the significant improvement in resident engagement services. Working alongside Supporting Communities and The Housing Agency, a working group comprising staff and residents was established and crafted our most targeted Resident Engagement Strategy to date. With a three-year 14-point action plan, we set out to ensure that tenant voices are central to the continuous improvement of the services provided by Oaklee.

Building for the future

During the year, we grew our Oaklee team from 49 to 58, to enhance our capacity and skills and build on the foundations of our independence. We are fortunate now to have an impressive team of talented professionals

The Crossings, Adamstown, County Dublin.

working together whose collective ambition is centred around increased delivery of homes and the on-going provision of exceptional customer services for our residents.

Increased delivery of more homes is a top priority for the board in 24/25 and in the current three-year corporate strategy. The delivery of social housing at scale, with strong counterparties and with cost rental is contained in the corporate plan for 2023-2025 and the growth plan approved by the board in June 2023.

The landscape has changed in the last year, with local authorities across the country requiring mixed tenure developments of both social and cost rental and a condition of their approval to AHBs for medium and larger developments.

For that reason, Oaklee’s pipeline grew during 2023/24 with more mixed tenure projects now being assessed by the team, and in turn are beginning to come through the Housing Delivery Committee and Board for consideration. Taking this change into account, embracing the opportunities presented for mixed tenure, the targets in our business plan propose an increase in delivery for 2024/25 and beyond.

Increased delivery for 2024/2025 and beyond: Launching cost rental

Increased delivery of more homes is a top priority for the board in 2024/25 and in the current threeyear corporate strategy. The delivery of social housing at scale, with strong counterparties is contained in the growth plan approved by board. We have already made significant progress increasing delivery throughout the second half of 2024 with new homes delivered in Portlaoise, Kill, Cloverhill, and Greystones. The most significant with funding recently granted for 262 homes across Fingal County Council and South Dublin County Council including 154 cost rental homes. This represents a significant milestone for Oaklee as we build on the strategic objective of delivering more homes through strong partnerships including cost rental homes in mixed tenure developments.

As we work to deliver against our objectives, our corporate values are what guide our behaviour and make sure every action, every decision, every word or promise we make leads to more and better homes for those who need one.

Great homes, thriving communities.

T: 01 400 2650

E: enquiries@oaklee.ie

W: www.oaklee.ie

Kilheale Manor, Kill, County Kildare.

Composition of purchasers of new homes

Conor Steen, Associate Director, Hooke & MacDonald.

Hooke & MacDonald Research has tracked the composition of purchasers of new homes in Ireland from 2015 to 2023.

First time buyers have consistently been the leading purchasing group. In the latest statistics released by the CSO first time buyers increased their percentage of new home purchases from 32 per cent to 33 per cent. Other owner occupiers constituted 23 per cent, down from 24 per cent in the previous year.

The biggest mover in the latest figures is the public sector category which includes the LDA, Approved Housing Bodies (AHB), local authorities, and The

Housing Agency. This has now become the second biggest purchaser of new homes, at 26 per cent of the total, increasing from 22 per cent in 2022 and an 86 per cent increase from 14 per cent in 2018. At the present rate of activity in the various sectors, it is likely that the public sector will be the leading purchaser of new housing stock within two years.

The CSO figures for purchasers of new homes are based on sale closures so

Composition of purchasers of new homes in Ireland 2015-2023

there is a time lag between date of purchase and date of sale closure. This can conceal trends in the marketplace, for instance in the case of forward purchases of apartment blocks in 2021 and 2022, which only appear in 2023, 2024 or later. This is reflected in the purchases of properties by pension funds and institutional entities/funders, both domestic and foreign, whose share of purchases in the CSO figures has fallen by 53 per cent from 15 per cent in 2022 to 7 per cent in 2023. However, the reality is that purchases by this category is heading for zero due to the unfavourable conditions in Ireland for private funding of the housing market.

The dramatic movement by private funders away from the Irish housing market as shown by these latest figures is a disaster for the Irish housing market and particularly for the private rented sector, which is already negatively impacting on the supply and cost of accommodation and which is on course to deteriorate further this year and in the coming years. The reality is that institutional entities have been responsible for funding the construction of over 20,000 apartments, mostly in Dublin, in the past seven years providing accommodation for approximately 50,000 people based on an estimated occupancy of 2.5 persons per property. If these had not been built the rental market would now be in a far worse position than it currently is in terms of supply – these properties would not have been built if it were not for these sources of capital.

The State can only fund less than half of the €20 billion required annually for the funding for a minimum of 50,000 new homes so it is imperative that conditions are created as a matter of urgency

for institutional funding to re-enter the market and make up the difference in the funding shortfall. The damage done by the 2 per cent rent cap is now plain to see. It needs to be ended now. The convoluted replacement for it proposed by The Housing Commission would be most unhelpful and unwieldy.

Funding by the Government for the different typologies of housing needing in the public sector is an absolute necessity and must continue. It is such a pity that funding for the private sector is being impeded by misguided and failed policies preventing private institutions from supporting the private rental market in Ireland.

The Department of Finance has produced a report which contains a very significant and honest analysis of how the housing programme for the State has to be funded. If supply is to be ramped up to meet the housing supply targets, measures need to be introduced to counter the alarming inactivity of institutional funders in the industry and to actively encourage and substantially increase their involvement.

Hooke & MacDonald 118 Baggot Street Lower Dublin 2 PSRA No. 001651

T: 01 661 0100

E: info@hmd.ie

W: www.hmd.ie

National Retroﬁtting

Energy Ireland® National Retroﬁtting Conference 2024, in partnership with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and sponsored by SSE Airtricity, is taking place on Thursday 28 of November 2024. The Government has developed an area-based and one-stop-shop approach to retroﬁtting in order to upgrade at least 500,000 homes to a B2 energy rating by 2030. This year’s conference will be the fourth gettogether of all the key stakeholders involved in the delivery of the programme.

Exhibition opportunities

Meath

Speakers include:

Ciaran Byrne Director of National Retrofit

Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland

Barry Quinlan Assistant Secretary Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications Evelina Gunnarsson Associate Manager & Behavioural Economist Ramboll Sweden

Paul Kenny Director General European Heat Pump Association (EHPA)

Catherine Keenan Director of Housing Dún LaoghaireRathdown County Council

John Curtis Head of the Economics Research Division

The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI)

Stuart Hobbs Director of Energy Services Ireland SSE Airtricity

Sinéad Hughes Director of Innovation & Programme Manager on ENACT Irish Green Building Council (IGBC)

There are a limited number of opportunities for interested organisations to partner with the conference as an exhibitor. This is an excellent way for organisations to raise their profile with a key audience of senior decision-makers from across Ireland’s energy sector. For more information on packages available at the event contact us on 01 661 3755 or email info@energyireland.ie

‘Sobering’ link to house price rises and relaxed credit channels

An established link between credit availability and rising house prices in the residential housing market, last seen prior to the financial crisis, is once again evident in Ireland, say the ESRI.

The average loan-to-income ratio, within the Irish mortgage market, has returned to multiples last seen at the peak of the Celtic Tiger boom and there is strong evidence to suggest that the credit channel is once again having an influential impact on Irish house prices.

Since 2012, nominal house prices in Ireland have risen by 126 per cent, while rent levels have increased by 108 per cent – largely fuelled by demand outstripping supply for over a decade.

However, an ESRI report assessing the contribution of changing credit standards to recent house price developments has highlighted some concerns that part of the recent price

increase across the residential market may be “unsustainable in nature or that it may be fuelled once again by a mortgage credit-house price spiral”.

Although outlining their finding that “exogenous movements” in credit conditions, which have been notable since 2021, are consequently now having an impact on house prices, the report’s authors are quick to point out a “crucial difference” of scale between the present and the Celtic Tiger period.

“A significant number of mortgages were issued in the 2005 to 2007 period when credit conditions were loosened considerably, whereas fewer are available now,” the report states,

Promoting sustainable communities

adding that at this point, the risk “does not appear to be systemic in nature”.

However, it warns that in the context of a growing cohort of mortgage holders in the Irish residential market taking out highly leveraged positions, “a significant deterioration in economic fundamentals such as reduced income levels or higher mortgage rates could result in these households experiencing some difficulties in repaying their mortgages”.

To this end, the report’s authors recommend careful monitoring of the changing credit conditions and their impact on house prices.

At the time of the global financial crash of 2007/08, Ireland’s financial sector, like many countries across Europe, was especially vulnerable due to its substantial liabilities in the property market. The Celtic Tiger period had seen a large boost in activity coupled with major credit market liberalisation and subsequently, an increase in mortgage credit which fuelled a housing bubble.

Included in the cost of the crisis was a fall in house prices by some 54 per cent between 2007 and 2012, leading to the eventual overhaul of financial regulation at both a national and an EU level. However, the ESRI says that the Central Bank’s decision to soften mortgage lending rules for first-time buyers in 2022 has contributed to rising house prices.

On the changes which included a movement of maximum loan-to-income ratios for first-time buyers from 3.5 to four times income as well as changes allowable to loan-to-value ratios for

second and subsequent buyers from 80 per cent to 90 per cent, the report says: “Enabling prospective house buyers to borrow more at a time when there was considerable savings already built up in the Irish economy due to Covid-19 has almost certainly put upward pressure on house prices.”

Interestingly, the report flags potential learnings for other European countries in Ireland’s circumstances. Despite uneven recovery in European markets following the financial crash, an economic legacy of the Covid-19 pandemic was a widespread acceleration of house price inflation. Three-quarters of over 60 countries were recorded by the IMF’s Global House Price Index were recorded as witnessing price increase in 2020 and in to 2021, with over onethird of these countries recording rises greater than 5 per cent.

The report notes that house prices have not experienced such a sustained increase since the period before the financial crash, concluding: “While there is not yet a systemic risk to the domestic financial system, it is important that this trend in changing credit conditions and the resulting impact on house prices be carefully monitored.”

Adding: “It is particularly important that any upward movements in house prices are not additionally fuelled by changes in credit condition.”

Innovating to build more social and affordable homes

“Construction is a massive part of what we do, and we have been working to increase our construction pipeline, year on year. We have developed a number of innovative processes to grow our construction arm,” Clúid Housing’s Chief Commercial Officer, Eibhlin O’Connor, explains. “Having a healthy construction pipeline is important to us for a number of reasons. Primarily, it gives us a much greater level of control over the design and specification of the homes, the cost, and when they will be delivered. It also adds to overall housing stock in the country and allows us to innovate and push boundaries in areas like sustainability.”

Working in partnership with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, local authorities, The Housing Agency and the Housing Finance Agency, Clúid delivers and manages social and affordable homes across the country, and has more than 31,000 residents in 12,000 homes. Clúid currently has 1,140 homes on-site under construction, with a further 771 homes due to commence on site in the next four months. The Approved Housing Body (AHB) also has an additional 2,189 homes at various stages of prestart on-site assessment.

“We use a number of different approaches to get shovels in the ground and homes built,” outlines O’Connor, “Some of our construction projects, like 112 homes at Green Lane in Blackpool, Cork City, and 81 homes at The Weir on Whitestown Way, Tallaght in Dublin 24 are on local authority land, with Clúid essentially acting as the developer. We have also had great success with our innovative Developer Design and Build Approach, which we introduced a number of years ago. Developers approach us with sites with planning permission which they have been unable to activate. Clúid

buys the sites upfront and provide them with stage payments to build it out.”

At Parkside, Belmayne, Dublin 13, Clúid is partnering with Cairn Homes to deliver 375 homes this year via its Developer Design and Build approach. They recently completed 127 homes with GEM Construction and 185 homes with Andrews Construction, among others. The Clúid team is also excited about Oscar Traynor Woods, Coolock, Dublin 15, where they are working closely with Glenveagh to deliver 853 homes, of which 320 will be delivered via its Developer Design and Build arrangement.

The Clúid homes at Dúiche Roden are set within a landscaped park to promote biodiversity and provide residents with communal outdoor space.

Another area where Clúid is breaking ground is with their Innovative Partnership. “At its most basic,” O’Connor explains, “this is a new approach to procurement, which will streamline processes to help us get on site quicker.” But for Clúid there are also additional benefits to this new Innovative Partnership, such as early contractor engagement. O’Connor is a huge proponent of Lean Construction and is driving a greater emphasis on reducing waste within Clúid. “Having the contractor on board from the beginning means that we are planning and making decisions together with the experts in the room. For instance, we are not including elements in the design that will be difficult to manage and maintain, time-consuming or costly to deliver. Instead, we are troubleshooting at an earlier stage, so we get the most suitable solution included from the offset, rather than trying to implement a work-around at a later stage.”

O’Connor also details how the innovative partnership has provided many opportunities for professional development within her team. Members of Clúid’s commercial development team have been undertaking Lean training alongside their counterparts at GEM, the innovative partner. She believes that coming together for the training has been helpful: “We are on this journey together to streamline our way of working and reduce waste. We do not want to pretend we have all the answers already. This partnership is about learning and improving together.”

When asked about scaling up their output, O’Connor is positive: “We have certainly got the ambition, the capacity and the experience in Clúid.” AHBs like Clúid are an increasingly important solution to the housing crisis. In 2023, AHBs delivered 5,924 new social and cost rental homes – nearly two thirds of the total delivered that year. “Clúid delivered more than 1,000 of those homes, and we are on track to deliver at least 1,200 new homes this year,” she adds. “We know with the right support that we can deliver in even greater numbers going forward. We are working with our partners to address any challenges, but what we need is more land. We want to partner with local authorities and developers who have land, to bring our 30 years of experience to create great homes and communities.”

Upcoming schemes

Parkside, Belmayne, Dublin – in partnership with Cairn and Fingal County Council

A mixed tenure scheme of 375 homes, general needs, age-friendly social homes, and 80 cost rental homes, delivered via their Developer Design and Build programme. Residents will be moving into their new homes from December 2024.

Bethany House, Sandymount, Dublin – in partnership with Dublin City Council

These 62 age-friendly apartments are being delivered by Clúid in partnership with Dublin City Council at Bethany House, Sandymount, Dublin 4. The original residents, along with new neighbours, are eagerly looking forward to moving into their A-rated homes in February 2025.

Coill na Giúise, Gorey, and Beechfield, Wexford Town – in partnership with Wexford County Council

Clúid is working with Byrne and Byrne, using their Developer Design and Build framework, to deliver 136 homes on two sites in Wexford in the coming years. Work has begun on both sites, with Beechfield due in spring 2026 and Coill na Giúise following in the summer of that year.

Some of Clúid’s homes in The Willows, Dunshaughlin, County Meath.

Residents will shortly be moving into the mixed tenure development at Parkside, Belmayne, County Dublin.

Promoting sustainable communities

Liège Declaration: Changing how the EU approaches housing policy

With the appointment of a first ever housing commissioner and new policy initiatives, the new European Commission is set to take an unprecedented interest in housing policy across its member states.

In March 2024, the European Union (EU) announced the Liège Declaration, at a conference of member states’ housing ministers in Liège, Belgium. The declaration affirmed that access to “affordable, decent, and sustainable housing for all in the European Union” is a fundamental right of EU citizens.

With recognition that housing policy will be a matter for member state governments to determine, the declaration instead calls on national governments to work towards the expansion of affordable housing by ensuring that they place more public investment into housing, that they adopt a “better governance approach”, and foster innovation between the public, private, and third sectors.

The declaration contains a call for a European new deal for affordable and social housing which, according to reports from Politico, is expected to be published by early 2025.

While details of the Commission’s new deal for housing have yet to be published, the declaration asserts that this new deal should be in line within the framework of the Commission’s Social Rights Framework Action Plan 2021-2030

At the Liège conference, member state housing ministers called on the

Commission, working with the European Parliament, European Economic and Social Committee, and the European Committee of the Regions, to organise an annual EU summit on social and affordable housing. This forum, the ministers argue, would enable stakeholders across Europe to exchange practices in compliance with the “principle of subsidiary”.

The ministers further determined that the Commission should establish an EU platform to “urgently support national, regional, and local partnership to end housing exclusion”.

Under this proposition, the Commission would strengthen its cross-sectional support for national, regional, and local policies in the housing sector by simplifying access to information on the possibilities for support from European instruments, including access to funding.

The ministers agree that the Commission must “take better account of the repercussions of EU policies on access to housing and housing exclusion in its impact assessments”.

They also assert that the European Investment Bank needs to “reinforce its support to [the] social and affordable housing sector, renewing its lending to

social and affordable housing providers,” and provide advisory services to member states in order to address supply shortage.

“Ministers responsible for housing, with respect for the principle of subsidiary, call for a European new deal for affordable housing and social support to development of policies to facilitate access to affordable, decent and sustainable housing for all based on a multi-level governance and sharing best practices and experiences from different member states with the support of the European institutions,” the declaration states.

In October 2024, Politico reported that President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen intends to publish the Commission’s housing plan within the first 100 days of her new mandate.

Politico reports that a leaked draft of the document states that the EU is “suffering from a widespread housing crisis”, further specifying that rent prices and house purchase prices have seen “significant acceleration during the [Covid-19] pandemic”.

The leaked plan also reportedly contains proposals to generate funding for the Commission to support member states in their housing programmes, including guarantees from the InvestEU programme and an investment platform coordinated with the European Investment Bank. The plan also reportedly calls for measures to open up spending on retrofitting of homes for decarbonisation purposes.

Public procurement rules and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs)

Recent investigations by the Charities Regulator have highlighted the importance of tendering for the supply of goods, services and works contracts to ensure the good governance of charities.

This is particularly so for Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) to ensure transparency, fairness, and value for money. AHBs must adhere to specific public procurement rules when entering into contracts. Public Procurement is governed by EU Directive 2014/24/EU and SI No 204/2016. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has also provided AHBs with Public Procurement Guidelines for AHBs to assist in ensuring their compliance with public procurement rules.

There are different procedures for AHBs to follow depending on the value of the contract for the supply of goods and services:

• Below €50,000: A simplified procurement process can be adopted, and it is recommended that AHBs seek at least three quotes to ensure value for money.

• Above €50,000: Contracts in this range must be advertised and awarded through a competitive

process on eTenders. Typically, AHBs use the ‘open’ or ‘restricted’ procedures.

The Capital Works Framework Management provides guidance for work contracts and the threshold for the simplified procurement process is below €200,000 and the competitive process should be used for contracts in excess of €200,000.

The most utilised procedures are the open procedure and restricted procedure. The open procedure allows all interested suppliers submit bids. This is a straightforward and transparent method suitable for many contracts. The restricted procedure is used for more complex contracts and involves a two-stage process where interested suppliers are first screened before submitting detailed bids.

Other procedures available to AHBs include a competitive dialogue procedure or a negotiated procedure.

AHBs must adhere to the key principles in their procurement

activities which include transparency, non-discrimination and equal treatment, proportionality, and competition.

AHBs should also seek to incorporate ethical considerations in their procurement processes, such as sustainability, local economic impact and supplier diversity.

Public procurement rules for Approved Housing Bodies in Ireland are designed to promote efficiency, transparency, and fairness in the procurement process. By adhering to these regulations, AHBs can ensure they provide the best possible value for public funds while also contributing to the broader goals of sustainability and community development. As housing needs continue to evolve, so too will the frameworks governing procurement, requiring AHBs to stay informed and compliant with changing regulations.

Please note that this does not constitute legal advice and AHBs should always seek advice from their legal advisors in relation to the procurement process.

T: + 353 1 676 4488

E: collete.cassidy@oclegal.ie

E: ruth.oconnor@oclegal.ie

W: www.oclegal.ie

Promoting sustainable communities

EU to appoint Commissioner for Housing and Energy

In a first-of-its-kind appointment, Dan Jørgensen, is set to become the first European Commissioner with a policy remit focused on housing.

With housing expected to be a priority area for the incoming Commission, a new role of Commissioner for Housing and Energy has been established at the behest of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. This Commissioner will lead the Commission’s remit on housing.

The Commissioner for Housing and Energy is tasked with helping to bring down energy prices, invest in clean energy and ensuring that the EU reduces its energy dependencies. Jørgensen will be the first ever Commissioner for Housing – looking at all aspects from energy efficiency to investment and construction.

The new commissioner will be tasked with preparing a European affordable housing plan, as well as the development of an EU strategy for housing construction to support housing supply, reduce building costs, ensure supply of skilled workers, and improve productivity and environmental performance of construction.

Jørgensen has been the Danish Minister for Development Cooperation since 2022, having previously served as Minister of Energy and Climate between 2019 and 2022, and Minister for Food, Agriculture, and Fisheries between 2013 and 2015.

Speaking to eolas Magazine in October 2024, Sorcha Edwards, Secretary General of Housing Europe said that while the new role is “an opportunity to achieve better finance and better regulation for AHBs in their different guises across Europe”, that “there are no EU-level silver bullets to tackle our housing crises”.

“Contexts vary hugely and key levers like tenant protection and planning are local and should stay local. At EU level, we need more coherence to prevent, for instance, EU limits on national debt from stopping financial support for social or cost rental housing,” Edwards says.

“We see this as an opportunity to achieve better finance and better regulation for AHBs in their different guises across Europe so that they can thrive and grow in their role to help achieve housing models that tackle housing exclusion for the good of the society and the economy. Our first step will be to ensure our members benefit from the announced increase in EU funding.”

Currently the Commissioner Designate, Jørgensen’s ratification as Housing Commissioner is subject to a hearing in the European Parliament, which is scheduled to take place on 5 November 2024.

North & East Housing Association

Having marked its 30th anniversary in 2023, North & East Housing Association continues to grow and develop its reach and offering to stakeholders and partnerships.

During the period of the current strategic plan, the Association has expanded its housing activities and proposals in particular in counties Cavan, Laois, and Monaghan, bringing its local authority operational areas to 13. The Association is on track to deliver 70 homes in 2024, with commitments and construction underway for more than 100 further new homes during 2025.

A significant emphasis is placed on quality and sustainability, as well as maximising delivery opportunities, employing a blended approach to delivery of acquisition and construction turnkey via CALF and HFA funded borrowings.

Turnkey delivery under forward funded development agreements is proposed in the upcoming strategic plan period, as the association considers this approach important in terms of delivering opportunities which are underpinned by quality, programme and cost efficiency outcomes with stakeholder partnerships, to support addressing local authority Housing Delivery Action Plan targets.

Apart from new housing and apartment delivery, a strong emphasis and value has been placed by local authority partnerships on brownfield and repurposing/regeneration in provincial high street locations, and development with proximity to town centre amenities.

Thus, promoting sustainable communities in terms of tenure mix, access to and supporting town and village centres, and reduction on carbon footprint through accessibility to existing/improving public transport and pedestrian links.

These supply characteristics have been recognised by awarding bodies for developments in both County Louth and County Meath during the present strategy period. A further recent example of this approach is Birch Court, Ballybay, County Monaghan, which provides four ‘A’ rated upgraded apartments within the town centre, with the premises also accommodating a municipal library service.

North & East continues to progress its supply locations under employer led direct construction through the Capital Assistance Scheme. Present supply initiatives are being undertaken at Garristown, Balbriggan, and Castleblaney, with both Fingal and Monaghan county councils. These combined locations will provide 50 houses/apartments with an emphasis on older person accommodation with universal design (UD), and UD+ features.

The Town Centre Living initiative, and preservation of protected structures are further locational features. As such, a blend of important end user outcomes and policy initiatives are being addressed in these construction areas, which will deliver from 2026 onward.

For more information, please contact the development team E: info@neha.ie W: www.northandeast.ie

Proposed development at Marian House, Balbriggan. Desiun Architects/MGM Project Management.

Promoting sustainable communities

Ireland’s record homelessness

In what are likely to be the last homelessness numbers released by the current government before the Dáil is dissolved for a general election, it has been revealed that a new record of 14,760 people are living in homeless emergency accommodation.

Since the Government came to power in June 2020, homelessness has been recorded at the end of every month, and the latest release by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, marks the 23rd time that homelessness has reached a record high in the lifetime of the incumbent administration, for which 51 months of data are available.

The figures, which cover the week from 23 to 29 September 2024, show that 14,760 are accessing emergency accommodation, of which 10,199 are adults and 4,561 are children.

The trends of the Government’s homelessness numbers have been consistent through its term. The vast majority of the State’s homelessness is concentrated around the capital, Dublin.

Furthermore, around half of those in emergency accommodation are not recorded as Irish citizens. 53 per cent hold Irish citizenship, while 22 per cent are from the European Economic Area (EEA) or UK, and the remaining 25 per cent are from outside the EEA.

The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has released

monthly homelessness reports since May 2014. Figure one shows the monthly homelessness trends since Enda Kenny began his second term as Taoiseach.

Since the current administration took power in June 2020, homelessness has seen significant declines in three distinct periods. The Covid-19 pandemic and resultant ban on evictions, as well as the winter eviction bans which took place in the winters of 2021 and 2022.

The Government ended the last winter eviction ban in March 2023. Although government figures argued at the time that this would lead to a decrease in homelessness, homelessness has consistently increased in almost every single month since the ban was ended.

Ending homelessness by 2030 is a formal government policy under Housing for All

Figure one: Homelessness in Ireland, May 2016-September 2024

Enda Kenny begins second term

Leo Varadkar becomes Taoiseach

Covid/current government take office

Source: DHLGH

HAIL aims to build more partnerships to deliver on growth plans

Housing Association for Integrated Living (HAIL) will mark our 40-year anniversary in 2025. Over the past four decades, we have been providing high quality social housing and mental health tenancy sustainment services to support our tenants and clients to live independently in their homes and communities.

We are proud of the impact of our work and of our staff, who have helped positively change the lives of so many of our tenants and clients. We see everyday through our work, just how transformative having a stable and secure home is to support people with their mental health recovery.

We have grown significantly since 1985 as the demand for our housing and support services continues to increase. In 2023, we supported our highest ever number of clients for the third consecutive year.

Under our current strategic plan 20242028, we are planning to expand further so that we can support more people and strengthen the impact of our work.

As part of our growth plans, we are aiming to deliver an additional 300 new homes by 2028 and expand our mental health tenancy sustainment services into more communities across Ireland. Forming more partnerships with other organisations across the sector will be key to support us reach these targets.

We are actively seeking more partnership opportunities with property developers, local authorities, and other approved housing bodies to work with us in providing more homes. Our professional and highly experienced development team have a strong track record of successfully delivering development projects. We are primarily seeking development partners to work with us on delivering multi-unit developments. We are also focusing on repurposed projects of up to 50 units, Part V opportunities, and sustainable new builds.

In addition to this, we are looking to expand our mental health tenancy sustainment services into more local authority areas. This service supports people who have a mental health difficultly, who are living in private rented accommodation, local authority, or

social housing, sustain their tenancy and live independently. We currently have a presence in 16 local authority areas and our aim is to expand this service over the next five years.

We would be delighted to hear from property developers, local authorities, and other Approved Housing Bodies about opportunities for us to partner and expand our housing and support services as we embark on the next chapter in our mission to provide the key to independent living for people with mental health difficulties.

Martina Smith, HAIL CEO

To discuss partnership opportunities please find our contact details on: W: www.hail.ie

Gaeilge le Grá: A major review of how we are teaching the Irish language

I recently held my first all-Irish event in the European Parliament in Brussels, in conjunction with Conradh na Gaeilge. I was heartened by the amount of young people who attended the event and are learning Irish all over again. I was proud to hear Irish being spoken in the European Parliament, writes Fianna Fáil MEP Cynthia Ní Mhurchú.

The overwhelming feedback I got from young people on that evening is that the way they learned Irish in school was not conducive to becoming fluent in Irish and using Irish on a daily basis. They felt it was all stick with no carrot dangled in front of them to encourage them to make Irish a part of their daily life. They learned through the repetition of verbs, grammar and poetry. They were not afforded an opportunity to develop an interest in Irish. Many of them felt that, at the time, they could not relate to the importance of the language. In fact, they rebelled against it.

Make Irish relatable

The film ‘Kneecap’ has done more for encouraging young Irish people to learn Irish than 50 years of classroom-based learning. It framed the language in a manner that young people could understand and made it fashionable, relatable, and on trend.

The film demonstrated the power of the arts to be a vehicle within which to teach and encourage Irish language fluency. We need to start thinking outside the box to develop new ways to make learning Irish fashionable, attractive and cool again.

I recently contacted officials in the Creative Europe fund, a €1.84 billion EU fund used to promote culture across the EU, to investigate whether 10 Irish language music studios and rehearsal rooms could be funded across Ireland. The new studios would seek to capitalise on the shot in the arm that ‘Kneecap’ has given to the Irish language of late. They would be available to young people in a particular location to record and produce music, poetry and videos exclusively in Irish.

It does not matter whether the young person learning Irish is composing hip hop

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“The film ‘Kneecap’ has done more for encouraging young Irish people to learn Irish than 50 years of classroom-based learning.”

Cynthia Ní Mhurchú MEP, Fianna Fáil

tracks, beat boxing, rapping or singing pop songs, as long as they are using Irish in the process. The Irish language has to be relevant to young people and has to meet them where they are in their lives.

I am sure Peig would understand that young Irish people may prefer to be emulating the Beastie Boys, Kneecap, or Jay-Z, as long as they are learning Irish in the process.

Broadcasters have a role to play in promoting Irish and that should be teased out more in any public funding that is allocated to them. TG4 has excelled at producing excellent programming aimed at a young audience, including Paisean Faisean. Of late, Virgin media has produced Grá ar an Trá, a bilingual dating show hosted by Gráinne Seoige. These are far more effective ways of generating an interest in the Irish language.

A second-class language in the European Parliament

Irish was a treaty language when Ireland became a member state in 1973, which meant that only EU treaties were translated into Irish. The Government applied in 2005 for Irish to become an official and working language and it was granted this status on 1 January 2007. Due to the shortage of translation staff and Irish language technological resources at the time, the scope of the status was derogated and the number of documents to be translated into Irish were limited.

I am currently fighting to ensure that Irish becomes a full working language in the institutions of the European Union. I do not know why we have tolerated our national language being sidelined at the top tiers of the European institutions for this long and I am critical of the Irish speaking MEPs who have sat in the European Parliament for years and done nothing about it.

I have no intention of letting this derogation continue under my watch. I am calling for an immediate end to a rule which sidelines our national language in the EU institutions in Brussels. We also need to ensure the removal of any barriers to employing interpreters with Irish. If we are serious about preserving our culture, our heritage and our national language that our ancestors spoke in every day, then we need to start in Brussels and end the sidelining of the Irish language.

There are people across Ireland who are promoting the use of the Irish language on a daily basis and they should be supported and encouraged. Gaeilge le Grá is an online Irish language course, the brainchild of Gráinne Ní Mhórdha in Thurles, that will teach you Irish in a practical, easy and enjoyable way. Gráinne is one of many young people that are leading a revival of the Irish language. We must get behind them and provide every support that we can.

A slow death

According to a recent Census, only 74,000 Irish people speak Irish on a daily basis. That is less than 2 per cent of the population. When a language dies, the traditions, heritage and culture of it dies too. Ireland needs to be careful that we do not become some bland mid Atlantic culture-less society that has abandoned our heritage.

We know that the constant reciting of verbs over and over again, and memorising conversations in Irish will not encourage young people to speak the language on daily basis. We know that in order to develop fluency, we have to spark an interest in Irish and meet young people in their own sphere of interest.

According to University of Mainz Professor Anneli Sarhimaa, almost half of the world’s languages will have died out in the next century. Let’s work together to ensure that Irish is not on that list. The time for change is now.

New Commission elected: Ireland’s place among Europe’s leadership

On 18 July 2024, Ursula von der Leyen was re-elected for a second mandate as President of the European Commission after receiving 401 votes in a secret ballot by the European Parliament.

Von der Leyen, who hails from the centre-right European People’s Party, has won the backing of three European Parliament groups from across the political spectrum: her own European People’s Party (EPP), the centre-left Socialists and Democrats, and the centrist Renew Europe group.

During her first term in office, von der Leyen was at the forefront of several mandate-defining challenges including negotiating a Brexit deal with the British Government, establishing a European vision to combat climate change, dealing with the

effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as ensuring security of the EU’s energy supply after sanctions were placed on the Russian Federation following its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Seeking re-election, von der Leyen laid out her political guidelines for the next European Commission 2024-2029 in Europe’s Choice.

In this manifesto, von der Leyen focused on a ‘new European Prosperity Plan’, to:

• make business easier and deepen the European Single Market;

• build a clean industrial deal to decarbonise and bring down energy prices;

• put research and innovation at the heart of

Including von der Leyen, there is a total of 27 commissioners, six of whom are executive vice-presidents.

Decisions made by the European Commission are taken based on collective responsibility. All commissioners are equal in the decision-making process and equally accountable for these decisions.

Teresa Ribera Rodríguez is the Spanish Government’s nominee as Commissioner.

Ribera is the commissioner-designate for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, and will be responsible for competition policy, guiding the

the European economy;

• boost productivity with digital tech diffusion;

• invest massively in Europe’s sustainable competitiveness; and

• tackle the skills and labour gap.

Emphasising the significance of the next term, von der Leyen stated: “The next five years will define Europe’s place in the world for the next five decades.

“In a world of adversity and uncertainty, I believe Europe must choose to stick together and dare to think and act big. To live up to the legacy of our past, to deliver for the present, and to prepare a stronger union for the future.”

The vice-presidents act on behalf of the president and coordinate work in their area of responsibility, together with several commissioners.

Some of the most senior and pivotal commissioner portfolios are held by:

work to ensure that Europe stays on track for its goals set out in the European Green Deal, that the EU decarbonise and industrialise the EU’s economy at the same time.

As a member of the Spanish Socialist Worker’s Party, Ribera served as Minister for the Ecological Transition for the Sánchez Government in June 2018, having had previous experience as DirectorGeneral of the Spanish Climate Change Office from 2004 to 2008.

From 2014 to 2018, she held the position of director of the Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations and was involved in the negotiation of the Paris Climate Agreement.

Since 2021, Ribera has served as the third VicePresident of the Spanish Government and as Minister for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge.

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission

Credit:

Teresa Ribera Rodríguez: Executive Vice-President for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition

eolas

Stéphane Séjourné: Executive Vice-President for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy

Stéphane Séjourné has been nominated by the French Government to serve as commissioner.

As part of her announcement for the composition of the College

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of Commissioners, von der Leyen has assigned Séjourné as commissioner-designate for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy.

He will be responsible for industry, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the single market portfolio.

Séjourné served as a member of the European Parliament from 2019 to 2024 and was president of the Renew Group from 2023 to 2024.

As a member of the Renaissance Party, Séjourné was elected to the French National Assembly in 2024, serving as Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs in Prime Minister Gabriel Attal’s Government.

As a commissioner, Séjourné has committed to fostering the conditions for European companies to thrive whether in investment and innovation or economic stability and security.

High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and vicepresident of the European Commission

Until September 2024, Kaja Kallas served as Estonia’s first female Prime Minister since 2021, leading the Estonian Reform Party since 2018.

Kallas has now been tasked by von der Leyen to serve as the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission.

Kallas served as a Member of the European Parliament from 2014 to 2018, representing the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe.

The other vice-presidents designate by von der Leyen are:

• Henna Virkkunen (Finnish): Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy;

The Irish commissionerdesignate is Fianna Fáil’s Michael McGrath. McGrath will be the Commissioner for Democracy, Justice and the Rule of Law.

McGrath’s designation marks the first time that Ireland will hold this portfolio.

Von der Leyen stated she entrusted McGrath with “the responsibility to take forward the European Democracy Shield” and added that “he will also

During this term, Kallas was vice-chair of the European Parliament’s delegation to the EUUkraine Parliamentary Association Committee.

Von der Leyen stated her confidence that Kallas will “be the bridge between our internal and external policies, and to ensure we stay a geopolitical commission”.

• Roxana Mînzatu (Romanian): Executive Vice-President for People, Skills and Preparedness; and

• Raffaele Fitto (Italian): Executive Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms.

lead our work on the rule of law, anti-corruption, and consumer protection”, von der Leyen added.

Previously, following the 2020 general election and the formation of the coalition government between Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, and the Green Party, McGrath was appointed as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

As part of a reshuffle due to the agreement in the coalition deal, McGrath became Minister for Finance in 2022, a position he held until he became commissioner-designate in June 2024.

McGrath admitted days before his designation to the justice portfolio that he wished to undertake a portfolio in the finance or economic areas.

Justice and

Nonetheless, upon his nomination by von der Leyen, McGrath described his new role as a “vitally important one for Europe”.

“I am honoured to be proposed for the justice portfolio by President von der Leyen,” he said.

“The portfolio is vitally important [in] protecting our democratic values, rule of law and the rights of our citizens is fundamental to the future development of the EU and of the single market.

“I am very pleased to be given the responsibility for the protection of consumer rights across the EU [and] I welcome this opportunity to apply my skills to new areas of responsibility and I am grateful for the confidence placed in me by the Government and by president von der Leyen.”

Kallas:

Ireland’s Michael McGrath: Commissioner-designate for Democracy,

Rule of Law

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Ireland’s Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) in senior roles

Some of Ireland’s MEPs have assumed senior positions on committees of the European Parliament, with one MEP being the chair of the parliament’s Delegation to Palestine.

Sinn Féin’s Dublin MEP Lynn Boylan has been elected chair of the European Parliament’s Delegation to the State of Palestine.

The Palestine Delegation is the Parliament’s official body for monitoring the EU’s actions

towards Palestine and will regularly meet with Palestinian officials, experts, and civil society groups to hear their updates and demands.

As chair, Boylan will be able to set the Delegation’s agenda, issue press statements on behalf of the delegation and secure meetings with EU diplomats.

Speaking after her election, Boylan said she wants to “improve the EU’s solidarity with the Palestinian

Fáil

His election marks the first time since 1987 that an Irish MEP has chaired a standing committee in the European Parliament.

The committee oversees matters related to humanitarian aid in developing countries in partnership with the European Commission and the European Council.

people and secure concrete actions to end the genocide in Gaza”.

“During the European election campaign, the Irish people made clear that they want their representatives in Europe to fight for peace and justice in Palestine and stand up for human rights and international law.”

Boylan states that her ambitions are to promote EU funding for the reconstruction of Gaza and support for a two-state solution.

Following his election, Andrews said he was “passionate” about addressing global inequalities.

“At a time of such global insecurity, I feel that our commitment to eradicating poverty, helping those in dire need and improving our relations with developing countries is more important than ever,” he added.

Andrews will also serve as vice-chair for the Delegation to the State of Palestine.

European Parliament’s subcommittee on Tax Matters.

It is a subcommittee to the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs, focusing on the fight against tax fraud, tax evasion, and tax

avoidance as well as on transparency for taxation purposes.

Established in June 2020, the subcommittee consists of 30 members and was established following several tax evasion scandals such as LuxLeaks and the Panama Papers, which exposed the rogue offshore finance industry.

Speaking about her election to the committee, Doherty said: “FISC is an important subcommittee where members come together to debate and share ideas about how EU countries can work together on taxation issues.

“Tax competition with the EU means that member states can try different approaches and learn from each other. We need to reform our tax codes to make our economies more competitive, attract more investment and incentivise our job creators, remove barriers to operating cross-border within the single market and we need to tackle tax evasion and money laundering.”

Doherty added: “I am honoured to be able to serve as vice-chair on the FISC Committee and I look forward to the work ahead.”

Lynn Boylan MEP (Sinn Féin)

Fianna

Dublin MEP, Barry Andrews, has been elected chair of the European Parliament’s Development Committee.

Barry Andrews MEP (Fianna Fáil)

Fine Gael’s Regina Doherty was elected as an MEP for Dublin and serves as vice-chair for the

Regina Doherty MEP (Fine Gael)

Apple must pay €14.1 billion to Ireland in ‘final judgement’ decision

Technology firm Apple must pay €14.1 billion to the Irish Government after the company lost a European court appeal of the European Commission’s ruling that it received unlawful state aid in Ireland.

On 10 September 2024, the Court of Justice of the European Union found that two Irish subsidiaries of Apple received unlawful state aid from the Irish Government. As a result, the company will now be forced to pay a €13.1 billion back-tax bill to the State, in addition to interest payments of just over €1 billion.

“Ireland granted Apple unlawful aid which Ireland is required to recover,” the European Court of Justice says, further stating that this ruling is the “final judgement in the matter”.

The Court of Justice’s ruling reaffirms a 2016 ruling that Apple had underpaid its taxes to the Irish Government by €13.1 billion for financial years between 2003 and 2014. The tech firm appealed this decision in September 2019 in a bid to the lower General Court of the European Union, the result of which was a verdict reached by the general court in July 2020 to annul the initial ruling.

However, the following September, the Commission announced it would appeal this decision by the lower court, with Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, the Commission’s ‘competition czar’, asserting at

the time that the “General Court has made a number of errors of law”.

Vestager had made fair competition a priority agenda item for her, with the Commission having pursued cases against both Ireland and Luxembourg under the assertion that they offer favourable tax treatment to multinational firms in order to acquire the international headquarters of these companies.

The September 2024 ruling was focused on how two units of Apple were taxed in Ireland for handling intellectual property licences for its sales outside of North America. Although the General Court stated in 2020 that the Commission was incorrect to say that these units had been given “selective advantage”, although they had been given different tax terms by the Irish Government to other companies, which the 2024 ruling affirms is against state aid rules.

In spite of Minister for Finance Jack Chambers TD asserting that the ruling “will not impact on the parameters already set for Budget 2025”, it would appear that the tax windfall was an enabler of the Government’s high-spending budget.

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Sinn Féin’s government hopes slipping

Sinn Féin’s dreams of leading government in the State are slipping, with plummeting polling, poor performances in the European and local elections, and a series of scandals having led to a loss of momentum on the precipice of the general election campaign. Having attended the Sinn Féin ard fheis in Athlone, Ciarán Galway and Joshua Murray write about the challenges facing the party.

While just one year ago, many Sinn Féin members had no doubt that it was their destiny to lead Government in the Republic for the first time, a series of poor decisions, coupled with scandal and loss of momentum, means that there is now added pressure on Mary Lou McDonald TD to defy the odds and lead Sinn Féin into government for the first time.

Sinn Féin in September 2023 and Sinn Féin in September 2024 are two different propositions. The November 2023 ard fheis was distinct from September 2024, however, in that the assembled faithful then believed that the party was on the cusp of winning a general election and entering government, with party president Mary Lou McDonald enjoying significant popularity.

In the intervening months, there have been five major developments for Sinn Féin.

Firstly, the party underperformed in local and European elections relative to its polling over the previous three years since the February 2020 general election.

Secondly, the party – in attempting to plough a steady furrow into the general election campaign – has jammed a stick in its own spokes. Firstly, it alienated much of its republican base with an initially half-hearted response to the Israel onslaught in Gaza – refusing to call for expulsion of the Israeli ambassador and refusing to boycott the St Patrick’s Day programme at the White House – before miscalculating its position on immigration. Chiefly, immigration discourse has wrong-footed the traditionally left populist party.

Thirdly, the relative absence of Mary Lou McDonald amid several personal crises over the last 12 months, had left a yawning personality vacuum at the very top of Irish politics; one in which Taoiseach Simon Harris is now firmly ensconced.

Fourthly, against many predictions, the northern Assembly and Executive returned with a Sinn Féin First Minister at the helm, and the party cemented its seemingly unassailable position as the largest party in the North with its best

ever performance in the Westminster elections, converting the marginal to the assured and challenging even for seats in DUP heartlands.

Fifth, the series of scandals which have emerged about party members in recent months, including the resignation of Brian Stanley TD, the resignation of former Senator Niall Ó Donnghaile, and the Michael McMonagle incident.

Internally, the momentum of the Sinn Féin pendulum has swung back to Belfast and away from Dublin. This was reflected in the delegate attendance at the 2024 ard fheis. Several delegates, including an MLA, a councillor, and a party activist commented privately on greatly reduced numbers this year. “A bit flat,” remarked more than one attendee.

It all belies the fact that this should be the most significant opportunity in the party’s history, at least since 1981; being the final ard fheis ahead of a general election campaign in which the party seeks to offer a viable alternative to the Fine Gael/Fianna Fáil duopoly.

Credit: Sinn Féin.

A tale of two leaders as Mary Lou McDonald TD fails to capture the imagination following poor elections results earlier in 2024, while Michelle O’Neill MLA has led the party to record-breaking success in the North.

Last year, eolas Magazine noted:

“Currently, the fanfare which surrounds McDonald is unparalleled in any other party, with enthusiastic Sinn Féin members of all ages swarming the leader for photographs in a manner which was not analogous to other party gatherings. Sinn Féin members believe that they have their dream ticket to government on both sides of the border of this island, and ultimately the path to Irish unification.”

In a relatively short time, the party’s fortunes appear greatly diminished. Similarly, McDonald’s public persona has – understandably – dimmed.

Meanwhile, there is a perception – not entirely unmerited – that many media outlets are engaged in a concerted campaign to protect the political status quo.

Having been elected to represent the Cork South-West ward on Cork City Council in June 2024 – and having subsequently been selected to contest the Cork North Central constituency in the general election alongside Thomas Gould TD – Joe Lynch told the ard fheis that media outlets “seem incapable of not falling for his [Taoiseach Simon Harris TD] every word” and suggested that his record be scrutinised rather than his soundbites amplified.

‘Lessons learnt’

When an Ard Comhairle member suggested to eolas Magazine that “lessons have been learnt” since June 2024, it was hard to avoid drawing parallels with similar sentiments expressed following the equally poor performance in the local and European elections in May 2019. Regardless, the senior member contends that the coming general election remains “a three-horse race”.

Dissent

In a rare moment of dissent during the ‘making housing affordable’ session, former MP for Mid Ulster, Francie Molloy, exceeded his speaking time in criticising Sinn Féin councillors for voting against a specific rural housing application in his constituency, and accusing the party leadership of failing to reply to him when he has written to them on the matter.

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Internationalism

Amid Israeli bombing of Gaza and Lebanon, Sinn Féin’s internationalism was on full display throughout the ard fheis. Paul Mashatile, the Deputy President of the African National Congress (ANC) and of the Republic of South Africa, Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Ireland, Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid, and the Ambassador of Cuba to Ireland, Bernardo Guanche Hernández, were in prominent attendance.

However, Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Defence, Matt Carthy TD, failed to ignite the explosive energy of the previous ard fheis where he had led chants: “In our thousands, in our millions, we are all Palestinians.”

‘She can turn this around’

Speaking with another senior member of the party apparatus, there was agreement that Sinn Féin must manoeuvre national discourse back to housing policy. Does Sinn Féin’s general election success hinge on this? “Pretty much, yeah,” they responded.

Party activists from Belfast spoke with this publication on the twinning of constituencies north and south to pool resources and manpower. The local organisational structures in some constituencies in the 26 counties, they suggested, are comparatively weaker than their counterparts in the North, where many of its key supporters have active and prominent roles – such as youth workers, social workers, and community volunteers – in the fabric of their constituencies.

Fringe events were limited to two simultaneous events in adjoining lecture

theatres on the Technological University of the Shannon’s Athlone campus. The first – a book launch and discussion in memory of party stalwart, Rita O’Hare –was a standing room only affair. The second – a niche but practical session –focused on the role of the 21st century councillor in Irish local government and was markedly less well attended.

As ever, the evergreen Sinn Féin ‘grandfather’ figure, Gerry Adams, was a huge draw. “It’s great to see,” commented one party member from County Laois as she observed fellow attendees lining the Sinn Féin shop for a book signing and photo session with the veteran republican. It took over an hour for Adams to whittle down this adoring queue.

The Rita O’Hare book launch offered an insightful look into the mood in republican circles. Chaired by Gerry Adams, the panel comprised Danny Morrison, Brendan Brownlee – Rita O’Hare’s widower – and Dawn Doyle. Adams opened proceedings onto the floor, where the topic of discussion between the party faithful ranged from fond memories of O’Hare’s decades of activism, to perspectives on where Sinn Féin is now.

Notably, there was an apparent consensus among the party’s grassroots that its republicanism is being downplayed in order to gain favour with southern media.

“None of us joined Sinn Féin all those years ago because we wanted to fix a health service… We joined it to unite our country,” said one party member.

With Gerry Adams listening and nodding intently at the front of the room, other members spoke of their dissatisfaction with the party’s opposition to Fine Gael

Sinn Féin ‘grandfather’ figure, Gerry Adams, had been preparing for many years to make Mary Lou McDonald the first Sinn Féin Taoiseach.

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and Fianna Fáil, with the perceived lack of emphasis placed on Irish unity and republican principles, such as the lack of recognition of British sovereignty in the North, among the points raised.

This was a lively, although far from heated, debate within the republican inner circle, and exposed a fundamental flaw in Sinn Féin’s attempt to path a way into government. The overwhelming majority of its members see themselves as revolutionaries whose aim is to essentially reestablish the 1916 Republic. In contrast, the path that the party is currently taking is focused on being perceived by polite society as a legitimate and respectable party, at a significant enough distance from its historical association with the Provisional IRA to not merit criticism by the Dublin media, while close enough to its past to ensure that its core support base and membership – i.e. veteran republicans –can stay the course and continue with the core objective of making Mary Lou McDonald the Taoiseach.

McDonald’s popularity as party leader has always seemed somewhat fraught. An initial outsider to republicanism, she was cultivated by Gerry Adams as his successor, with the goal of making her the first Sinn Féin Taoiseach over a period of 15 years prior to her becoming leader.

Having initially struggled to endear herself to the Sinn Féin base following poor election results in the 2019 European and local elections, the party’s success in the last general election –largely attributable to her personal popularity at the time – meant she was safe in her position as party president and had the Sinn Féin base rallying around the core objective of republicans: making her the Taoiseach and leading government north and south.

But, following extremely disappointing results in the 2024 local elections, as well as somewhat less disappointing results in the European elections, the enthusiasm for McDonald has somewhat faded. This is a challenge given that the core of the Sinn Féin project is for her to be a votewinner and propel the party into government.

Sinn Féin formally re-elects its Ard Comhairle at every ard fheis. When McDonald was formally re-elected as party president, there was a comparably muted reaction from the crowd compared

to the formal re-election of party vicepresident Michelle O’Neill MLA, who has led the party to unrivalled success in the six counties, where it now leads in local government, Stormont, and among the North’s cohort of Westminster MPs.

As this was happening, Sinn Féin leadership was in the process of removing two press officers who had provided professional references to former Sinn Féin press officer and convicted child sex offender Michael McMonagle, something which Mary Lou McDonald and Michelle O’Neill have said took place without the party’s approval.

One veteran MLA agreed that the position of the party in the south is below what was expected even one-year prior to the time this ard fheis was held, but was adamant that there is still a chance that the party can turn the tide.

“We were in a much worse position before the last [general] election and did better than we ever thought we could at the time,” the MLA told eolas Magazine, adding their full belief that “She [Mary Lou McDonald] can turn this around”.

‘We are not giving up’

Taking the stage at 6.30pm, McDonald’s speech was essentially a rallying cry for the general election, largely touching on policy matters in the south such as housing, health, renewable energy, and an attempt to win over voters enamoured by Simon Harris’ ‘law and order’ mantra.

McDonald said: “As a proud Dubliner, I am sick of the Government line that our city is safe having abandoned it to open drug dealing, criminal gangs, and antisocial behaviour.”

Earlier that day, Rose Conway-Walsh TD had criticised the longstanding inclusion of policy pertaining to the North under the auspices of the Department of Foreign Affairs portfolio as “an insult to citizens in the North”.

Returning to this theme, in her speech, the Sinn Féin president called for the establishment of a ‘minister for reunification’ within the Department of the Taoiseach, thereby removing the North from the remit of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

McDonald has recently provided greater insight to the public about her personal life, having experienced the death of her father, her own personal health

challenges, and serious illness of her husband.

She thanked supporters for their solidarity: “In life, you have your ups and your downs, times when you need someone to put an arm around you. Over the last year, I have felt that kindness in my own life.”

McDonald went on to strike a defiant tone: “I’m an optimist, an Irish republican, a mother who wants the best for her children, and for yours.

“When I need inspiration, I remember who raised me, who I am. One of four raised by my mother on her own, who worked to pay rent and bills, to make sure we had every chance in life.

“I was raised to never give up, to stand by the things I know to be right. I am more determined, Sinn Féin is more determined than ever to build a better, fairer, united Ireland for everyone. We are not giving up.”

It was still daylight when members filtered into the crisp autumnal Athlone air. One party veteran from County Wexford remarked of the party leader: “She never misses. She’s the right leader, I tell you.”

However, the impression from this ard fheis is that McDonald’s continuing as Sinn Féin leader is entirely dependent on the results of the next general election.

Gerry Adams, back in 2014, said that the Sinn Féin strategy was for “equality” to be the “trojan horse of the entire republican strategy”, with the objective of winning power north and south and gaining respectability among the Irish establishment.

While this project has succeeded thus far in the North, where Michelle O’Neill leads the Executive and stands as the most popular political leader on the island of Ireland, according to most polling, the task of turning the tide and winning the next general election in the South remains a tall order.

If Sinn Féin falls short in the election, it is entirely plausible that there will be a new party leader, marking, perhaps not the end, but a significant setback in a decades-long project choreographed by past republican leaders of assuming control of the State, leading the Executive in the North, and using this to unite the country.

S cial Media Dublin

#SMDublin is back for 2025! Now in its 11th year, Social Media Dublin is the major event for the Irish social media and communications industry. Bringing together over 350 attendees, the event will take a deep dive into what social media will look like for 2025 and onwards. A highlight of #SMDublin is showcasing successful social media campaigns from Ireland and beyond.

Catrin Elis Content Editor Visit Wales, Welsh Government

Scott Gault Social Media and Content Strategist Aer Lingus

Nicole Mezzasalma Senior Consultant, Innovation Battenhall

Jessica Hannon Communications Officer The Housing Agency

Nicola Halloran Director Teneo

James Lace Marketing Manager Diageo

Laura Murray Social Media Manager Kerry Group

Steve Parker MD, Social and Influencer Stripe Communications

James Keep Senior Social Media Data Analytics Manager, WWF UK

Chris Barnes Communications and Knowledge Management, Public Health Agency Northern Ireland

Darragh Doyle Head of Communications, Marketing and Audience Development Dublin City Council Culture Company

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Measuring the Government’s legislative accomplishments

The publication of the Autumn Legislative Programme shows that the current administration has presented 211 legislative bills since it came to office in June 2020. eolas Magazine evaluates how this compares to legislative accomplishments of previous governments.

When measuring the success of a government, there is one simple metric which can determine whether an administration is successful in implementing its programme, the amount of legislation it has passed.

The three-party coalition government has, since formation in June 2020, overseen 211 bills being presented to the Houses of the Oireachtas, of which 203 had been passed into law at the time the legislative programme was published.

When the Government took office following the inconclusive election result in February 2020, it followed a campaign which harnessed frustration on social challenges, particularly health and housing, as well as the need to tackle the climate emergency, all of which came just before a global pandemic which shut down the country for most of 2020 and part of 2021.

In historical terms, the amount of legislation passed over the term of the current legislation has been average, in spite of unique circumstances such as the Covid-19 pandemic, the energy crisis emanating from the Russian invasion of the Ukraine, and the Government’s measures to tackle the housing crisis.

However, while the amount of legislation

has been average, the significance of the incumbent administration’s legislative initiatives are arguably above that of most governments.

The Government has passed significant legislation pertaining to housing and environmental policy, largely driven by the surge of support for the Green Party between 2019 and 2020.

Between the energy transition measures driven by the Climate Action Plan and the Government’s legislation driven by Housing for All, the Government has succeeded in passing long-term, consequential legislation which will likely continue to set the agenda for future governments.

Autumn Legislative Programme

More than four years into office, most of the Government’s flagship policies are now in place, particularly in housing and energy. At the time of publication, the flagship piece of legislation awaiting passage was the then-Planning and Development Bill – the third largest piece of legislation in the history of the Houses of the Oireachtas – which was passed in the Dáil on 9 October 2024 after around 170 pages in amendments from the

Seanad were added. This has since been signed into law by President Michael D Higgins.

The Autumn Legislative Programme outlines 29 pieces of legislation for priority publication in the Houses of the Oireachtas’ autumn term, with 32 pieces being drafted for priority legislation.

At the time of publication of the legislative programme, there were 24 bills on the Dáil and Seanad Order paper. Since the legislative plan was announced, the Government has passed significant overhauls to planning legislation and aims to oversee passage of legislative initiatives pertaining to housing and cybersecurity before the Dáil dissolves.

Speaking at the time of publication, Government Chief Whip Hildegarde Naughton TD said: “Since my appointment as Government Chief Whip in December 2022, government has overseen the enactment and publication of 148 pieces of legislation, all of which contribute towards making life a little bit easier for families, for workers, for farmers and for society as a whole. Since the formation of this government (June 2020), 211 bills have been published and 203 bills have been enacted.”

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Bills presented to the Oireachtas by government term

Government Bills passed in Oireachtas

Legislative agenda of government

Cumann na nGaedheal 1922-1932 Approximately 400 Initial years after independence saw the formation of core institutions. Significant acts included the Constitution of the Irish Free State Act 1922, the Public Safety Act 1927, and the establishment of the Garda Síochána.

Fianna Fáil 1932-1948

Approximately 350 Focused on expanding state sovereignty, economic protectionism, and post-‘Emergency’ (WWII) recovery efforts. Standout legislation includes the Bunreacht na hÉireann and the Offences Against the State Act.

Fine Gael-Labour-Clann na Poblachta 1948-1951 Approximately 120 Health Act 1947, focus on reform of public services.

Fianna Fáil 1951-1954

Approximately 90 Focused on economic measures such as investment in public housing and passage of the Social Welfare Act 1952.

Fine Gael-Labour-Clann na Talmhan 1954-1957 Approximately 100 Focus on social reform, passing acts like the Industrial Development Act 1957.

Fianna Fáil 1957-1973

Approximately 600

Transformation of the economy, moving Ireland to a more globalised economic model. Key legislation included Finance Acts, Industrial Development Acts, and Health Acts.

Fine Gael-Labour 1973-1977 Approximately 150 Significant legislation included the Prohibition of Incitement to Hatred Act 1971 and AntiDiscrimination Act.

Fianna Fáil 1977-1981

Fine Gael-Labour 1981-1982

Approximately 180 Expansionary fiscal policies leading to bills focused on employment and infrastructure.

Approximately 50 Short-lived government aiming to expand social rights.

Fianna Fáil Feb 1982-Nov 1982 28

Short-lived government aiming to pass fiscal adjustments at a time of high unemployment and high inflation.

Fine Gael-Labour 1982-1987 Approximately 300 Fiscal austerity, economic stabilisation, social reforms, and relations with the UK. Major initiatives included the Anglo-Irish Agreement 1985.

Fianna Fáil 1987-1992

Fianna Fáil-Labour 1992-1994

Approximately 300

Reduction of budget deficit and economic reform. Standout measures included the establishment of the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC).

Approximately 100 Economic management and social reforms, including legislation which allowed for the divorce referendum of 1995.

Fine Gael-Labour-Democratic Left 1994-1997 Approximately 200

Economic stability, social reforms, and constitutional amendments, including legalisation of divorce and the 16th Amendment (bail law reform).

Fianna Fáil-Progressive Democrats 1997-2007 Approximately 500 Economic expansion and infrastructure development. Landmark legislation included the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2007 and repeal of Articles 2 and 3 of the Constitution (a territorial claim on the North).

Fianna Fáil-Green-Progressive Democrat 20072011 Approximately 200 Legislation reacting to the Great Recession and Irish banking crisis. Standout legislation included Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Act 2008 (bank bailout) and passage of the Lisbon Treaty.

Fine Gael-Labour 2011-2016 Approximately 300 Economic measures in line with the EU-IMF bailout programme, as well as social reforms. Standout legislation includes the terms for the same-sex marriage referendum and the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013.

Fine Gael 2016-2020 Approximately 230 Foreign policy measures following Brexit, environmental and housing policy, and social reforms such as the repeal of the Eighth Amendment. Standout legislation includes passage of the Climate Action Plan

Fianna Fáil-Fine Gael-Green 2020-present 203 at the time of print Housing and environmental policies, as well as temporary measures through the Covid-19 pandemic. Key initiatives include legislation emanating from Housing for All and the energy transition measures driven by the Climate Action Plan

Macdara’s death, at the age of 59, deprives his wife, Brónach, his daughter, Aoife, and his son, Ruairdhí, of a devoted husband and father.

With his mother Marie and sisters Ashling and Niamh, Macdara’s family led a wonderful tribute at Mount Jerome Cemetery, Dublin in a moving ceremony attended by the Aide-de-Camp to President Michael D Higgins, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald TD, and Labour leader Ivana Bacik TD.

The eclectic attendance included friends and colleagues from the world of music, journalism, politics, and the trade union movement.

A lifelong NUJ member, Macdara did not lick his trade unionism from the cobblestones. His father, Larry, was a trade union official, and his mother, Marie, was a teacher from whom Macdara inherited a love of language and justice. From an early age he was campaigning on a range of social justice issues.

In appreciation: Macdara Doyle

Macdara Doyle, who died on 24 August 2024 following a brief illness, was Campaigns Officer of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) and a frequent contributor to eolas Magazine.

That lifelong passion was reflected in his activities as a member of UCD Students’ Union, his support for global solidarity campaigns and his abiding interest in Latin America.

UCD shaped Macdara. It was there he studied history and English, graduating with a master’s degree – and a future wife.

Brónach and Macdara had a shared interest in social justice, combined with a love of travel. They spent a year in Mexico, teaching English and translating texts. They saw at first hand the cruel impact of military rule on the indigenous people of Guatemala. And they got married in Cuba.

On returning to Ireland, Macdara broke into journalism, writing for An Phoblacht, In Dublin, Big Issue, Hot Press, Sunday Tribune, Fortnight, Magill, and eolas Magazine, always looking beyond the narrow confines of the Republic of Ireland and the politics of Tweedledum and Tweedledee, while also writing about another great passion, music.

Reading the Magill archive, you get a sense of the breath of Macdara’s interests – his media column cast a jaundiced eye on coverage of contemporary affairs but remain relevant. The headline from his 1988 column repairs apposite: “Negative reporting, unfounded claims, and exaggerated headlines have dominated coverage of asylum seekers in Ireland.”

His laser eye focused on the global impact of Irish corporate giants such as Smurfit Cappa and Fyffes and on the devasting ecological impact of Monsanto. In a joint profile with Liz Walsh, he challenged the virtual canonisation of Peter Sutherland and never tired of railing against the naming of academic centres after imagined giant of Irish business.

Esther Lynch, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), recalls working with Macdara in a campaign to end workfare in the early 1990s. “With his journalistic skills, he helped co-write a guide for unemployed

people about their rights and, importantly how to organise to improve those rights,” she said.

For Macdara, his work in Ballymun with Esther was consistent with his work in Mexico: using his impressive literary skills to unlock the windows of knowledge.

It was Maurice Sheehan of Mandate who encouraged him to apply for a job with Concern. As communications officer, his writing skills were put to good use by David Begg and Sally Anne Kinahan.

His report from East Timor, After the Apocalypse, published in Magill in March 2001 showed the impact that visit had on Macdara. Those Concern field trips reinforced his commitment to social justice.

It was Sally Anne who encouraged him to apply for a job in Congress where David Begg recalls him giving a stunning interview.

As communications officer, he collaborated with the small team in Parnell Square, witnessing the highs and lows of social partnership, casting a cold eye on the arrival of the Celtic Tiger, the economic collapse, and the arrival of the Troika.

His writing skills, his intellectual rigour, and his genuine commitment to the labour movement were Macdara’s key attributes.

He could be impatient, stubborn, and irritated by the demands of the 24-hour news cycle. At times he could be incredibly laid back, even during an apparent crisis!

News-hungry journalists under pressure from a demanding editor would sometimes tear their hair out as an unflappable Macdara explained that there really was nothing to tell.

Macdara was a graduate of the Ronan Keating School of PR. Not being an instrument of policy or a prophet, he refused to predict the outcome of ongoing negotiations or complex disputes, adopting the mantra: ‘You say it best when you say nothing at all’.

He embraced new challenges as campaigns officer. The Raise the Roof campaign brought him back to his roots, while his passion for the environment found an outlet in his work on climate change and just transition.

I cherish the memory of a day spent in west County Offaly with Macdara and his friend and colleague David Joyce. My brother, Eamon, was our guide as we visited Lough Boora and gathered cranberries near Ferbane.

As we moved from town-to-town, Eamon explained the impact of Bord Na Móna’s withdrawal from the midlands on local communities. Macdara’s journalistic instincts kicked it, seizing on the need not just for a transition but a just transition for workers and their families.

All of us will have our own memories of Macdara. He wore his learning lightly. In unguarded moments he sometimes revealed the depth and expanse of his interests.

Behind his laid-back demeanour was a man of steel with solid principles and great integrity.

Séamus Dooley, Irish Secretary, National Union of Journalists (NUJ)

eolas Magazine regrets the death of veteran journalist and ICTU stalwart, Macdara Doyle, who was a regular contributor to this publication from its inception until his untimely death. His piercing insight will be missed.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

Seanad voting rights extended to graduates

Voting

rights for the six university seats in Seanad Éireann have been extended to graduates of all thirdlevel institutions in the State.

President Michael D Higgins signed the Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Act 2024 into law on the 29 October, 2024.

Initiated in September 2024 and sponsored by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien TD, Act has three main elements:

1. an extensions of the franchise for the election of six seanadóirí;

2. the establishment of a single six-seat highereducation constituency; and

3. the appointment of the National University of Ireland as a central registration authority – led by a chief registration officer – to maintain a register of electors.

Since 1937, the six university seats have been elected by graduates of two universities: three from the University of Dublin (Trinity College Dublin) constituency and three from the National University of Ireland (NUI) constituency.

However, the new legislation provides for graduates of any designated institution of higher education in the State to be eligible electors in a new six-seat highereducation constituency, provided they are aged 18 or over and are Irish citizens. The Higher Education constituency will replace the existing NUI and Trinity College Dublin constituencies.

Under the revised electoral system, the NUI will be the Central Registration Authority (CRA), and will be responsible for maintaining the Register of Electors.

The CRA will also appoint a chief registration officer. There is provisions in the Act for a registration officer in each designated institution of higher education, who will be required to assist the CRO in the provision of information they hold so that an applicant’s claim can be verified.

Furthermore, the Act states that the first register of electors for the new higher-education constituency will be published on 1 April 2025, registering those eligible to vote on 23 January 2025. An annual register will

subsequently be published each year on 1 June and register those eligible on the 26 February of the same year.

The passing of the Act comes following a Supreme Court judgement that sections 6 and 7 of the Seanad Electoral (University Members) Act 1937 – which provide for the election of seanadóirí by graduates of specific universities – are unconstitutional due to their inconsistence with Article 18.4.2O of the Constitution as amended.

The Court found that Article 18.4.2O of the Constitution which was amended through a referendum on the Seventh Amendment in 1979, Oireachtas to enact legislation to include the electors of other higher-education institutions beyond NUI or TCD.

In May 2023, the Supreme Court found that the framing of the proposed amendment of the Constitution in 1979 necessitated subsequent action to expand the franchise. However, until now, this legislation had not been meaningfully pursued.

The Supreme Court’s subsequent judgement means that the Oireachtas must remedy the unconstitutional provisions of the 1937 Seanad Electoral Act, requiring that the change is in place by the end of May 2025. This means that while the Act has been signed into law by President Higgins, it will still have no affect on the impending general election and it also means that the current Seanad Éireann will sit another term before any provisions within the Act are implemented.

Speaking on behalf of the Government, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD said: “This legislation will broaden the electorate for electing the Seanad’s six university seats to graduates from a range of higher education institutions through a significant expansion in the number of graduates eligible to register to vote.

“Amending existing legislation so that the franchise for electing these six senators to one vote per graduate will enshrine the

principle of equality of representation in the higher-education constituency.”

Also welcoming the decision was the Minister of State with responsibility for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan TD, who stated that the new constituency should “help ensure different voices and ideas among our graduates are represented, keeping with the diversity of views the Seanad has long espoused”.

While the Act has been signed into law, the Government has received criticism from opposition parties and independents who have stated that the Government has only introduced reforms because of pressure from the Supreme Court.

Senator Rónán Mullen accused the Government of “taking a minimalist approach within a minimalist approach by seeking the way the university seanadóirí are elected”.

“I do not think it is a good idea in this day and age that graduates would have access to votes that citizens without degrees do not,” Mullen stated.

“There is all sorts of bogus modernisation going on around here, but if we were serious about modernisation it would be a good idea to adopt the principle that every citizen should have a vote for the Seanad. Anything else is a disgrace.”

During the Dáil’s final debate of the Act, Sinn Féin deputy whip Denise Mitchell TD, accused the Government of applying the Supreme Court’s judgement in its “narrowest form”.

“The legislation still excludes the majority of people from voting in the Seanad. The Government appears happy to continue to leave the Seanad open to ridicule and the accusation of being completely undemocratic,” Mitchell stated.

“Graduates from Queen’s University Belfast, Ulster University, St Mary’s University College Belfast, and other graduates from regional colleges across the North have all been left behind here.

“The Government has done the bare minimum [and] it has fumbled an opportunity for meaningful reform.”

public affairs eolas

125 years of local government in Ireland: A timeline

2024 marks 125 years since the first local elections were held across the island of Ireland.

Throughout the last 125 years, local government in Ireland has undergone fundamental change, accumulating more responsibility and overseeing projects relating to community, enterprise, cultural services and recreation as well as building and maintaining the roads, housing, motoring, and emergency services of council areas.

1898: The Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898 creates three new forms of local authority including county councils, rural district councils and urban district councils. The law establishes democratic local government at county level, with county councils taking over the administrative functions previously exercised by the grand juries.

1899: The first elections to the county councils and rural district councils took place on 6 April 1899, with Irish nationalists candidates winning nearly 75 per cent of the county council seats. The act also allows women to stand and vote in elections for the first time in Irish politics.

1911: Women become eligible for election to city councils.

1912: Sarah Cecilia Harrison, an artist and suffragist becomes the first woman elected to Dublin City Council. That same year, Mary Strangman, another activist, was elected for Waterford Corporation.

1920: The British Government introduces proportional representation (PR) for the 1920 local elections during the War of Independence, hoping PR will dilute Sinn Féin’s vote. However, the party achieves widespread electoral success and take control of 27 of the 33 county councils. At the same time, unionists consolidated their control in the north-eastern areas.

1920: The Dáil Government establishes its Department of Local Government, with most borough councils in the 26 counties of Southern Ireland recognising the department.

1921: Northern councils retain allegiance to the Local Government Board and to the newly established Northern Ireland Parliament.

1925: Free State Excutive Council President W.T. Cosgrave signs the Local Government Act, 1925, into law which abolishes rural district councils.

1929: City and county management is first applied to Cork with the passing of the Cork City Management Act.

1930: Dublin follows Cork and the management concept was extended in stages across local government.

The first members of Galway County Council, with others, 1899.

Credit: Galway County Council Archives

Nothing for their Panes –Votes for Women.

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1935: The franchise is reformed when all men and women over 21 years are granted the right to vote, without any qualification.

1937: The reveal of the Constitution of Ireland lacks any reference to local government.

1940: The County Management Act extends the principles of city management to county councils.

1953: Having previously been required to hold local government elections every three years, the terms for locally elected representatives are extended to five years.

1983: Kildare County Council staff design Ireland’s first motorway-standard road, the M7 Naas bypass.

1991: The Local Government Act, 1991 grants powers of “general competence” to local authorities.

1995: A Devolution Commission is established to advise the Government on the devolution of functions and responsibilities to local government and on widening the role of local government.

1999: The electorate approve a referendum providing constitutional recognition of local government, guaranteeing elections at intervals of five years.

2003: Reforms are introduced to abolish the ‘dual mandate’, which meant that members of the Oireachtas could no longer hold council seats.

2014: The Local Government Reform Act reduces the number of local authorities from 114 to 31, and the number of council members from 1627 to 949.

2019: The Local Government Act, 2019, sees plebiscites on proposals for a directly elected mayor with executive functions in the local authority areas of Cork City Council, Limerick City and County Council, and Waterford City and County Council.

2021: The Government approved draft legislation for the role of a directly elected mayor for Limerick City and County with Executive responsibilities in relation to housing and building, road transport and safety, strategic development, and environmental services.

2024: The Limerick mayoral election takes place in June 2024, with independent candidate John Moran being inaugurated as the first directly elected mayor in the history of Ireland.

Cork City town planning report, 1941.

Credit : Cork City and County Archives

Frances Condell, Lord Mayor of Limerick, with President John F. Kennedy, 1963.

Credit: Limerick Archives

M7 Naas Bypass built in 1983, Liam Kenny Collection.

Credit: Kildare County Archives and Local Studies

Mayor of Limerick John Moran is elected as Ireland’s first mayor in 2024 Credit: X/John Moran

Digital Marketing Dublin 2024

Digital Marketing Dublin 2024 organised by eolas Magazine took place on Friday 27 September at the Marker Hotel, Dublin. Nearly 200 delegates attended the event, which featured expert speakers from across the spectrum of digital marketing including a focus on targeting specific audiences through tools such as SEO, paid search and email marketing. Delegates in attendance heard from speakers, both visiting and local, from organisations including Lidl Ireland; DCU; Part Three Digital; Dogs Trust; Dalata Hotel Group; Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth; and Texthelp.

Darragh Doyle, Dublin City Council Culture Company; Shauna Hanna, Texthelp; Hannah Bryans, Part Three Digital; Aoife McIlraith, Luminosity Digital; Dónal Mulligan, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, DCU and Sascha O’Toole, Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.

Linda Gilchrist and Kate Power from BearingPoint.

Caitlin Weich, Irish Blood Transfusion Service; Noemi Milani, Focus Ireland; and Kinjal Ranpura, Focus Ireland.

Nicola Cullinane and Sandra Carey from the Irish Examiner.

Claire Carr, Dogs Trust Ireland presenting to delegates.

Sharon Moylan, HEAnet; Alan Broughan, Emerald Park; and Sophie Simpson, Emerald Park.

Linda Coyne, Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, answering questions from delegates.

Digital Government 2025

Thursday 13 February 2025 • Croke Park, Dublin

This popular, interactive conference is a must-attend event. It provides a valuable opportunity to bring together key stakeholders to gain insight into the government’s objectives for digital transformation and hear directly from those responsible for driving this forward. Take the time to reconnect and network with your peers and colleagues, key senior policy makers and decision takers. The conference also features a busy exhibition zone featuring some of Ireland’s leading expert solution providers.

Sponsorship and exhibition opportunities available!

There are a limited number of opportunities to become involved with this conference as a sponsor or exhibitor. This is an excellent way for organisations to showcase their expertise and raise their profile with a key audience of senior decision makers from across Ireland.This interactive conference provides an excellent opportunity for making contacts and networking. For further information on how your organisation can benefit contact Jillian Wallace on 01 661 3755 or email jillian.wallace@eolasmagazine.ie

To register

Since the Great Famine, our population continuously declined until the end of the last century. We then changed from being a country from which people migrated to one where people wanted to come and live.

People who have migrated to Ireland have, in general, integrated very well and have adopted and absorbed many aspects of our culture and heritage. Our sports have prospered because of the arrival of people who have made Ireland their home and who have encouraged their children to play sport. The Irish language has also been readily adopted and learned by those same children.

Unlike other countries, we have not, and should not, permit the establishment of enclaves that are predominantly occupied by one ethnic group. Instead, those who have set down their roots in Ireland have integrated, and been integrated, throughout our society.

Although we have handled integration and immigration well, it is noticeable that in the past two years tensions have arisen. Centre ground political parties must acknowledge and talk about this as otherwise it will become a talking point that is the preserve of the extremes.

The main reason for this tension can be traced to the absence of sufficient

Jim O’Callaghan TD: The case for more international protection offices

In Ireland, we seldom acknowledge our achievements. One achievement that merits recognition is how the country has integrated people who have migrated here during the past 25 years, writes Fianna Fáil justice spokesperson and TD for Dublin Bay South, Jim O’Callaghan.

accommodation for persons coming into Ireland seeking international protection. This tension has not existed in respect of migrants who have come to work here from other EU countries or on work visas. The visible presence of large numbers of people residing in tents on public streets has given rise to much concern.

In my own constituency of Dublin Bay South, many tent encampments have developed in the vicinity of the International Protection Office on Mount Street and along the canal. Although residents of the inner city are very sympathetic to the plight of the people in tents, they nonetheless have legitimate concerns about the dangers associated with large numbers of people encamping on public streets. The consequent barricading of the streets, canal banks, and parks in the vicinity of the office with steel fencing is indicative of a system that is not working.

Part of the reason why so many people pitched tents near the office was because, at the time, it was the only place in the country where persons could apply for international protection. That has now changed with the establishment of another application office in City West. Nonetheless, most applicants still must physically come to Mount Street to apply for international protection. As a result of

the increased number of applicants, many of those making their applications cannot be provided with immediate accommodation.

The office on Mount Street is demonstrably not capable of processing the large numbers that continue to arrive on a weekly basis. It is for that reason that I proposed that the application process, as in other countries, be decentralised to multiple further locations. That would enable the physical processing of applications in a more expedited and appropriate environment.

Consideration should also be given to the introduction of more technologically advanced methods of applying for international protection, rather than requiring applicants to turn up physically at a busy city centre location.

The numbers seeking international protection have increased very significantly in recent years. In May 2024, Ireland became the recipient of the highest number of international protection applicants in the EU on a per capita basis. Part of the response to that challenge, aside from the designation of safe countries and the introduction of expedited processes, must be the creation of more application offices distributed across the country.