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JOURNAL

STRATEGIC HOUSING ACTIVATION OFFICE

19 12

12 IRISH PLANNING AWARDS 2025

Entries are open for the 2025 Irish Planning Awards to members of the professional planning industry for any projects undertaken since January 2023 or completed within the last five years, at a local, county, regional and national level.

17 SOCIAL HOUSING FESTIVAL

Dublin is set to host the 2025 edition of the International Social Housing Festival in June, when industry experts from around the world will exchange experiences and shared goals during the biennial festival at the National Convention Centre.

19 HOUSING COMMISSION

Prof Michelle Norris, Director UCD’s Geary Institute of Public Policy and a member of the Housing Commission, claims that the new Strategic Housing Activation Unit could unlock a lot of development. She believes that local authorities should establish their own housing organisations to create sustained social and affordable delivery.

25 LAMA AWARDS 2025

The ‘Council of the Year’ Award, presented for 2025 at the LAMA All-Ireland Community and Council Awards was won by Donegal County Council, which also picked up two category awards for ‘Best Communications Initiative’ and ‘Best Business Working with the Community’.

30 GREENWAY INVESTMENT

Government funding of €67m has been allocated for Greenways and National Roads Active Travel infrastructure, through TII, to support the delivery of several such projects around the country over the coming year.

CO-OPERATIVE HOUSING IRELAND

Co-operative Housing Ireland (CHI) recently completed 40 new homes in Wexford and used the opportunity to emphasise to the new Minister for Housing, the key role played by Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) in meeting social housing needs nationwide.

NATIONAL CENSUS ATLAS

Local authorities, planners and policymakers now have access to a detailed view of economic and social trends across the country due to a new visual mapping tool, developed by the All-Island Research Observatory at Maynooth University, in collaboration with Ireland's three Regional Assemblies.

DIGITAL TWIN TECHNOLOGY

A pilot scheme testing digital twin technology, in a bid to improve real-time decision-making during emergencies, is currently being trialled and tested around the campuses at Dublin City University, before it is deployed across the Dublin City Council area, and subsequently on a nationwide basis.

44 LAND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY

Building on its strong relationship with local authorities to realise its ambition of maximising the delivery of affordable homes, the LDA’s first direct delivery project in Dublin represents the largest state-delivered housing initiative in decades and is the first to be directly delivered by the Agency on state-owned land and in partnership with a local authority.

THE HOUSING AGENCY

The need for targeted training for local authority housing practitioners shows no sign of abating, according to the latest analysis by The Housing Agency. To gauge the needs of the sector, late last year the Agency undertook its latest periodic Training Needs Analysis.

52 TUATH HOUSING

A new initiative established by Tuath Housing aims to empower residents through active participation; by ensuring their voices are heard and they have a meaningful impact on the services they use through a resident feedback panel.

59 IPA STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP

The IPA’s Strategic Leadership Programme for 2025 aims to address critical leadership needs across the public service, encourage innovation and take an integrated approach to crossgovernmental issues such as infrastructure, housing, climate change, healthcare and immigration.

69 WIND ENERGY IRELAND

An interactive new website, which provides a breakdown of wind energy generation and associated benefits across the 26 counties, launched by Wind Energy Ireland, shows that Kerry, Cork, Tipperary, Galway, Mayo and Donegal were the top performers during 2023.

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70 ROADS INVESTMENT

This year’s investment programme of €713 million for Ireland’s regional and local roads represents an overall increase of over 8% in funding for road and safety improvements on the interconnected regional and local road network.

74 COMMUNITY ENTERPRISE

Community enterprise centres and hubs are worth €1.8 billion each year to the economy, Community Enterprise Association Ireland (CEAI) has revealed in new independent research. The CEAI report highlights their importance in the development of microbusinesses, SMEs and start-ups nationwide.

76 EPA RESEARCH PROJECTS

Funding of €14.5m for 25 new research projects to address climate change, environmental challenges, the green and circular economy, human health and wellbeing will be allocated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to build essential research capacity in Ireland.

Managing Director: Patrick Aylward

Editor: Grace Heneghan

Graphic Design: Niall McHugh

Advertisement Co-ordinator Audrey Fitzgerald

Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that the information included is correct, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for errors, omissions or discrepancies. The views expressed are not necessarily those of the publisher. All rights reserved Local Authority Journal © 2025

KERRY COUNTY COUNCIL TO ROLL OUT ROAD SAFETY CONFERENCE

Kerry County Council’s Road Safety Conference on 28 and 29 May, taking place at the Gleneagle INEC Arena in Killarney, will bring together road safety and transportation experts, government and local authority officials, roads policing and vehicle inspection agencies, road safety advocates, educators and promoters, collision responders, cycling bodies and community safety networks.

The two-day ‘Safer Roads’ conference will offer a range of discussions, interactive workshops and networking opportunities, all focused on improving road safety, reducing traffic incidents and sharing knowledge about best practices for safer road use.

mobility and the role of AI in the future of road safety in Ireland.

The aim is to discuss the latest research, strategies, technologies and policies aimed

at reducing road-related collisions, fatalities, and injuries, share resources and ideas and discuss the best way forward to helping improve road safety in Ireland.

The event will encompass various strategies and efforts across multiple domains, including road design, engineering, enforcement, technology, education, collision trends, sustainable For further information visit www.kerrycoco.ie/safer-roads-road-safety-conference/

93,000 HOUSING UNITS NEEDED DUE TO GROWING POPULATION –DAVY

REPORT

Ireland’s housing crisis has arrived at a critical juncture, with 93,000 new units needed each year for housing stock per adult, if the country’s population grows to six million by 2031, according to a new report from stockbroker Davy.

The report calls for urgent reforms, including overhauling strict rent caps, several measures to reduce housing construction costs, and further streamlining the planning system for critical infrastructure, including housing development.

With each passing year and the fundamental problems remaining unresolved, both pent-up demand for housing and the scale of the challenge have grown larger. The situation is unique internationally, owing to a major lack of supply, and the report states that resolving this demands its place at the very top of the new Irish government’s list of priorities.

Assuming these reforms take place, Davy forecasts that output could rise to 75,000 new units in 2031, driven by higher social housing and institutional investment. In the absence of necessary reforms, however, a lower output level well below the overall need is likely.

“At just 30,000 completions, housing output in Ireland was disappointing in 2024. This has added to an already sizeable pent-up demand for circa 230,000 homes, or more than 10% of the housing stock,” the report notes. Davy assesses that the extent of housing needs has been systematically underestimated

due to an unexpectedly strong economic and population backdrop. Capital financing requirements are substantial and could top €40bn by 2031.

Davy’s Chief Economist Kevin Timoney said that, at best, Ireland can build up to 75,000 houses a year by 2031 despite demand by this time requiring more. Speaking on RTÉ Radio 1 recently, he said that this would “be a stabilisation of the situation, as it will still leave the country short of what’s needed”.

For the forecast figure to be achievable, he said that “some reforms are necessary”, including apartment delivery. “Addressing Ireland’s weak construction productivity can unlock much higher housing output while reducing the risk of overheating in response to the higher level of activity,” he added.

To read the full review, visit https://publications.aecom.com/ireland-annual-review/

Bígí linn ag an bhFleadh

Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann acknowledges its partnership with the Local Authorities in hosting Ireland’s largest Cultural Festival, in different venues throughout Ireland

2024 Wexford 2025

Wexford County Council was honoured to host the Comhaltas Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in 2024 and we look forward to welcoming visitors from across the globe to this prestigious cultural event again in 2025.

Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann

2025 Wexford

NEW CHAIR TO LEAD HEALTHY HOMES IRELAND ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY POLICIES

The new Chair of Healthy Homes Ireland (HHI) has called on the new government to make health a key consideration when developing regulations to improve the energy efficiency of existing homes that require upgrading.

Susan Vickers said that she’s passionate about sustainability and protecting the health and wellbeing of the people of Ireland. “It is imperative that the new government integrates health considerations into public policy and in the delivery,” she added.

She has assumed the position from former HHI Chair Kevin O’Rourke, who departed in October 2024, after three years in the role. HHI is a collaborative forum of leaders in the built environment, housing and public health that aims to influence public policy to advance greener, healthier homes. The forum is supported by the Irish Green Building Council and VELUX.

Vickers will lead the forum in its aim

to positively influence public policy and practice by bringing together industry stakeholders to consider how to address health problems caused by existing homes requiring energy upgrades and ensure there is no compromise between health and energy efficiency in new build and renovated homes.

As Head of Environmental Sustainability at Clúid Housing, she leads the delivery of its sustainability strategy, including a retrofit programme to improve the sustainability of its existing housing stock with deep retrofit works completed on over 2,150 homes between 2018 and 2024.

Vickers has been a central member of the HHI Steering Group since its inception in 2021. Her extensive experience driving the sustainability agenda at Clúid and leading on the delivery of quality and sustainable homes will come into play to advance HHI’s mission of achieving healthier, greener homes in the state.

OVER €77M PAID TO REFURISH 1,449 HOMES UNDER VACANT

PROPERTY GRANT SCHEME

The latest figures under the vacant property refurbishment grant show that over €77m has been paid out to refurbish 1,449 homes since the scheme was launched in July 2022.

The figures – which outline applications, approvals and payments under the scheme up to the end of December 2024 –clearly show an exponential increase in the rate of grants issued to homeowners following completion of work.

As the scheme continues, more and more completions are coming on stream. In Q4 2024, 541 grants were paid out,

a significant increase from Q3 2024, where 336 grants paid out, as well as on Q2 2024 (226 grants paid) and Q1 2024 (146 payments). Overall, since the launch of the grant in July 2022, there have been 11,327 applications, 7,738 approvals and 1,449 grants issued up to 31 December 2024.

Under the vacant property refurbishment grant, you can receive a payment of up to €70,000 to turn a vacant or derelict house or building into your permanent home or a rental property. The grants are paid upon the completion of the work and the submission of the required paperwork demonstrating the work approved has been delivered.

According to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant is delivering real results, with over €77m paid out to bring nearly 1,500 homes back into use in towns and villages across the country.

“The rapid increase in grant payments shows the scheme is growing momentum, helping to tackle vacancy and providing much-needed housing. With its ability to provide housing and revitalise communities, it is not surprising that the grant is so popular. Indeed, with over 11,000 applications received and hundreds of applications being received monthly, this initiative is making a real difference in communities across the country,” he noted.

To date, Donegal County Council holds the highest number of applications (1,042), approvals (715) and grant payments (93). Cork County and Mayo County Councils have had the second and third highest number of applications respectively.

Vacant Property Grants

Susan Vickers, Chair of HHI.

APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR HEALTHTECH INNOVATION PROGRAMME

The DigiBio Healthtech Innovation Programme, designed to cultivate the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs in the health and wellbeing sectors, is accepting applications for the second year of its programme, which starts in September.

A total of 12 individuals from diverse backgrounds will be selected for this 10-month full-time postgraduate programme, which will be hosted and managed by Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) in partnership with RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, DCU, TCD and Tyndall National Institute.

Programme Highlights for Participants:

• Scholarship: €38,000 tax-free scholarship to take part in the programme.

• Expert Mentorship: guidance from experienced clinical, industry, investment and technology professionals

• Comprehensive Training: hands-on training in innovation, design thinking and entrepreneurship.

• Direct Access to Healthcare Environments: eight weeks in a healthcare environment identifying real healthcare problems to address.

• Exploration of Commercial Opportunities: supports to develop and validate viable business propositions.

Carl Power, Director of the DigiBio Healthtech Innovation Programme, said: “We’re looking for 12 quality candidates looking to get into a start-up or a career change as an innovation leader. It’s a very hands-on programme with direct access to healthcare environments. At its core, the

programme is about learning and applying a specific approach to finding a problem worth solving and building a commercial case to bring it to market.”

DigiBio is supported under the Innovators’ Initiative Programme, co-funded by the Irish Government and the EU through the Southern, Eastern & Midland Regional Programme 2021-2027. Applications remain open until 2 May. Visit www.digibio.ie/ apply#apply-now

The participants on the 2024/25 DigiBio Healthtech Innovation include a GP, nurse, physiotherapist, digital health designer, medical device designer, financial manager, digital transformation manager and solicitor.

#BUYDONEGAL 2024 CAMPAIGN REACHES RECORD GLOBAL AUDIENCE

Donegal County Council’s #BuyDonegal 2024 campaign reached a global audience of 58.9 million, with the initiative having grown to become a global movement, connecting Donegal’s diaspora and supporters worldwide.

An initiative of the Council’s Economic Development Division, the campaign encouraged people to buy locally and support Donegal businesses and families. The 2024 campaign featured over 400 participating businesses, ranging from handcrafted goods and artisanal food products to tech and hospitality services.

The 58.9 million global audience engaged with the campaign through online platforms, social media and media coverage, served to capture the imagination of Donegal supporters near and far. There was strong participation from the Donegal diaspora across the US, Canada, UK, Europe and beyond, driving international sales and awareness for local businesses.

Donegal’s Cathaoirleach Cllr Niamh Kennedy said that the success of #BuyDonegal 2024 was a testament to the resilience and creativity of Donegal businesses and the loyalty of their supporters.

“This campaign is about buying products and fostering a connection to the county’s rich heritage and future prosperity. Donegal-based businesses have reported increased visibility, brand recognition and sales as a direct result of the campaign. Its global reach has also strengthened Donegal’s reputation as a hub of innovation, craftsmanship, and hospitality,” she added.

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WATERFORD ON TRACK TO RECEIVE €17M

The Department of Transport, through the National Transport Authority (NTA), has allocated €17m in the delivery of active travel schemes in Waterford city and county.

The NTA has allocated €11.3 million for the sustainable transport bridge project in Waterford City with an additional €5.7 million Active Travel budget.

Mayor of Waterford City and County, Cllr Jason Murphy, said that the €17m NTA allocation for key infrastructural projects “will copper fasten Waterford’s commitment to building, maintaining and improving walking, cycling and wheeling infrastructure”.

He added that Waterford’s ambitious goal of attaining Net Zero or carbon neutrality by 2040, through reducing major emissions and developing sustainability through collaboration, innovation and behavioural change will be exponentially aided by the development of Active Travel projects.

Construction of a major active travel project in Tramore, to begin this summer, will involve the development of a 3km pedestrian and cycle improvement route along the R675 Tramore Ring Road. The scheme will feature a two-way cycle track separated from vehicular traffic, new signal-controlled pedestrian crossings, upgraded junctions and improvements to existing footpaths.

Furthermore, Safe Routes to School (SRTS) initiatives are planned for Kilmacthomas Primary School, Scoil Mhuire in Butlerstown and St John of God National School in Waterford

FOR

ACTIVE TRAVEL SCHEMES

City. The SRTS programme aims to encourage walking, cycling or wheeling to school by improving access to school grounds and creating safe spaces for students in front of the schools.

Waterford’s Active Travel Communications and Behavioural Change Officer, Dylan White, said that projects such as the Tramore Ring Road pedestrian and cycle improvement scheme and the SRTS initiatives will make it easier and safer for people of all ages to walk, cycle or wheel.

Together National School in Carrickpherish, Waterford City.

SOUTH DUBLIN SUSTAINABLE PROJECT WINS ENERGY GLOBE AWARD

The Energy Globe Award 2024 was won by the Tallaght District Heating Scheme, in recognition of its significant contribution to sustainable heating and carbon reduction in the South Dublin area.

The Tallaght District Heating Scheme (TDHS), Ireland’s pioneering large-scale district heating network, was launched

in early 2023. Managed by Heat Works, a non-profit energy utility owned by South Dublin County Council, the scheme cuts carbon emissions by nearly 1,500 tonnes annually, making a significant impact on the decarbonisation efforts.

This innovative system reuses waste heat from the nearby Amazon data centre to meet 100% of the heating demand. The collaboration between South Dublin County Council, Amazon, Fortum and Codema sets a new benchmark for lowcarbon heating, promoting climate action and enhancing the sustainability and quality of life in the local community.

Operating under the not-for-profit utility Heat Works and owned by South Dublin County Council, the district heating scheme is the first of its kind in Ireland. Heatworks will now represent Ireland at the International Awards Ceremony in Austria.

By reusing waste heat from a nearby data centre, the scheme provides efficient, low-carbon heating to several public buildings in the area, including SDCC facilities and TU Dublin buildings. This approach reduces carbon emissions by approximately 1,500 tonnes annually, making a significant impact on the decarbonisation efforts.

The project is set to expand this year, connecting 133 affordable apartments to the network and extending its reach to provide sustainable heating solutions for the Tallaght area. This environmental prize highlights the important role of innovative energy solutions in reducing carbon emissions and supporting sustainable development in Ireland. Visit https://heatworks.ie/ for more information.

A section of the completed ‘Safe Routes to School’ scheme at Waterford Educate

Pictured at the presentation of the 2024 Energy Globe Award at the Heat Works Energy Centre in Tallaght (l-r): Admir Shala, Codema’s District Heating Development Manager; Melitta Schubert, Austrian Ambassador to Ireland; Teresa Walsh, SDCC’s Director of Services; and Josef Treml, Trade Commissioner & Commercial Counsellor, Austrian Embassy.

UPMC IN IRELAND

Now with four hospitals, two UPMC Hillman Cancer Centres, six UPMC Sports Medicine clinics, and an outpatient centre, UPMC is expanding its services in Ireland to establish itself as a provider of exceptional patient-focused healthcare.

UPMC also works closely with public partners to ensure all patients have equal access to high-quality healthcare, delivered in a timely fashion.

Our locations include:

• Hospitals

UPMC Sports Surgery Clinic Santry

UPMC Aut Even Hospital Kilkenny

UPMC Whitfield Hospital Waterford

UPMC Kildare Hospital Clane

• UPMC Sports Medicine Clinics

TUS Moylish - Limerick

UCC Mardyke Arena - Cork

TUS Thurles - Tipperary

SETU Arena - Waterford

• UPMC Hillman Cancer Centres

UPMC Whitfield Hospital

Bon Secours Radiotherapy Cork in Partnership with UPMC Hillman Cancer Centre

• UPMC Institute for Health - Mayo

• UPMC Global Technology Operations Centre (GTOC) - Kilkenny

• UPMC Outreach Centre - Carlow

ENTRIES NOW OPEN FOR IRISH PLANNING AWARDS 2025

Entries are now open for the 2025 Irish Planning Awards to members of the professional planning industry for any project undertaken since January 2023 or completed within the last five years, at a local, county, regional and national level. The closing date is Friday 30 May.

The biennial awards, organised by the Irish Planning Institute, aim to promote excellence in the field of planning, encourage sustainable development, foster positive engagement between communities and projects, support economic development through thoughtful planning and honour projects that conserve historical buildings or create cultural venues.

According to IPI President Gavin Lawlor, “Similar to previous years, we look forward to receiving a broad range of submissions and entries, which demonstrate excellence in the planning profession.

“Thoughtful, innovative and sustainable planning is crucial for the sustainable development of our communities, regions and country. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Irish Planning Institute, and by recognising the very best work of our profession through these awards, the Institute hopes to inspire another generation of talented planners into our sector that will design and shape our society for the next 50 years.”

AWARD CATEGORIES

The 2025 Irish Planning Awards, which are supported by FuturEnergy Ireland, Uisce Éireann and Wave Dynamics Acoustic Consultants, will recognise planning excellence across the following 12 categories:

• Plan Making

• Commercial Projects

• Urban Regeneration

• Heritage and Culture

• Climate Action

• Biodiversity

• Housing or Community

• Infrastructure

• Research and Innovation

• Diversity and Inclusion

• Planning Consultancy and In-House

Planning Teams

• Planning Authorities

An overall President’s Award will be awarded to the standout winner across all categories. The awards are open to members of the professional planning industry for any project undertaken since January 2023 or completed within the last five years.

The closing date for entries is Friday 30 May. A panel of expert judges will shortlist entries this summer, before the awards ceremony takes place on Thursday 25 September at a black-tie gala dinner and ceremony in Clontarf Castle Hotel, Dublin.

Further details on the Irish Planning Awards 2025 and the individual award categories can be found within the IPI Events section on the Irish Planning Institute website www.ipi.ie

Celebrating its 50 th anniversary this year, the IPI is an all-island professional body representing over 1,000 planners across the public and private sector, including those working in local authorities, academia, An Bord Pleanála, central government, regional assemblies, private practice consultancies, property developers and semi-state organisations.

IPI President Mary Mac Mahon presented the President’s Award for 2023 to Limerick City & County Council, pictured alongside Kieran O’Donnell TD, then Minister for Local Government and Planning (left) and council planners, directors and officials from Limerick.

Louth Meath Education and Training Board (LMETB) stands tall as the largest education and training provider in the Northeast region. As one of the largest ETBs in the country,

30,0 00 students and learners annually across Primar y, Post Primar y and Further Education and Training (FET ).

time education and training opportunities, both accredited and non-accredited, for school leavers and adult learners across a variety of centres, colleges and outreach locations across Louth and Meath. It prides itself on providing pathways in education and training, allowing learners to upskill or reskill for career opportunities, or to progress within Fur ther or Higher Education

It is ideally positioned, in a strategically important economic area, to be the education and training provider of choice for work force upskilling. The delivery of par ttime FET programmes to support local employees in Louth and Meath is supported through the national SOL AS -

be provided in sof t skills development such as customer service, as well as in technical, practical and ICT skills.

times and locations, whether that be in the workplace, online or in an LMETB FET Centre.

The establishment of LMETB’s Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre of Excellence (AMTCE) in 2021 has also ensured LMETB’s position as a leading provider of training programmes in new and emerging technologies for use in industr y. The AMTCE provides training oppor tunities not only for those in employment but also develops the talent pipeline through the provision of Apprenticeship and Traineeship programmes to address the evolving needs of Advanced Manufacturing and related sectors.

LMETB is proud to have a diverse and inclusive workforce

suit school leavers, college graduates and professionals of all levels of skills and experience. Career oppor tunities in LMETB exist in roles such as Administrative Support, Caretaking, Tutors/ Instructors, Engineering and Science, Special Needs Assistant and many other opportunities. With options available for career progression and professional development, employees can help shape the future of education and training in the region

For more information on LMETB’s FET provision, see www.lmetb.ie /fet or contact LMETB’s Adult Education Guidance Service on 1800 991 898 or email adultguidance@lmetb.ie

http:// careers.lmetb.ie or contact LMETB Recruitment at 04 6 9 06 8200 or email recruitment@lmetb.ie

HARRIS MAXUS JOINS YAMAHA WORLDSBK FOR 2025 AND 2026

This year’s FIM Superbike World Championship is set to deliver a new chapter in motorsport collaboration as Harris MAXUS teams up with Yamaha’s WorldSBK Official Team for 2025 and 2026. Known for its dominance in the commercial vehicle sector, Harris MAXUS is stepping into the fast-paced world of superbike racing as a major partner.

The partnership is as ambitious as it is symbolic. Harris MAXUS and Yamaha bring together expertise from two engineering powerhouses, combining cutting-edge technology with a shared ethos of innovation and performance. It is a bold move from Harris Group, aligning its growing automotive legacy with one of the most celebrated names in global motorsport.

The timing could not be more fitting. After a lacklustre 2024 season, the WorldSBK team is preparing for redemption, spearheaded by six-time champion Jonathan Rea and his teammate Andrea Locatelli. Yamaha’s engineers have been hard at work refining the R1 WorldSBK, with expectations running high for a competitive comeback.

WorldSBK remains one of the most thrilling motorsport championships, pitting motorcycles against each other on circuits across the globe. Yamaha’s re-entry to the series in 2016 marked the beginning of a new era for the team, culminating in its 2021 “Triple Crown” victory of Riders’, Manufacturers’ and Teams’ Champions. The addition of Harris MAXUS to the roster is set to elevate its ambitions further.

This collaboration also reflects Harris MAXUS’s growing confidence as a global brand. Long established as a leader in commercial vehicle innovation, the move into the world of

Following the announcement of the Harris MAXUS partnership with Yamaha WorldSBK for 2025 at Harris Group HQ in Dublin (l-r): John Keogh, MD of MAXUS Ireland; Denise Harris, CEO, Harris Group; Brian Patterson, Group MD of Harris Group; and Jonathan Rea, six-time WorldSBK Champion and Yamaha WorldSBK official rider.

motorsport demonstrates a strategic pivot towards enhancing visibility and reputation on the international stage. For Harris, this partnership is about more than branding - it’s a signal of intent.

"We are thrilled to partner with Crescent and Yamaha’s Official WorldSBK Team, a global leader in innovation and success,” noted Brian Patterson, Group Managing Director at the Harris Group.

“This collaboration offers an incredible platform to showcase the MAXUS brand and connect with new audiences, highlighting our cutting-edge technology and commitment to sustainability. Seeing the Harris MAXUS identity on Yamaha’s race machines will be a proud moment and just the start of allowing us to engage with fans and dealers worldwide. Together, we look forward to achieving great things both on and off the track,” he added.

With the 2025 season starting on 21 February at Phillip Island, Australia and concluding in October at Jerez, Spain. Harris MAXUS branding will feature prominently on Yamaha’s race machines, underscoring the significance of the alliance.

“It’s always a pleasure to begin important new partnerships, and even more so with such an innovative, yet well-established and trusted company as the Harris Group, promoting its MAXUS range of commercial vehicles,” according to Paul Denning, Team Principal at Yamaha WorldSBK.

“With MAXUS already delivering impressive sales volumes in the UK and Ireland, we look forward to helping the Harris Group further increase the awareness of MAXUS. We also look forward to engaging with MAXUS dealers and customers at various events during the 2025 season.”

While the collaboration is still in its infancy, its potential is hard to ignore. For Harris MAXUS, it offers a platform to engage new audiences and showcase its innovation. For Yamaha, the backing of a commercial vehicle powerhouse adds another layer of momentum in its quest for WorldSBK glory.

DUBLIN TO HOST INTERNATIONAL

SOCIAL HOUSING FESTIVAL 2025

Dublin is set to host the 2025 edition of the International Social Housing Festival (ISHF) in June at the National Convention Centre. This biennial festival – an initiative of Housing Europe (European Federation of Public, Co-operative and Social Housing) - will gather industry experts from around the world to exchange experiences, learnings and shared goals.

The theme of the 2025 festival

‘Storytelling’ will centre on experiences, ideas and voices of all those engaged in housing – from public, co-operative, and social housing providers to tenants, policymakers, and advocates for inclusive homes and neighbourhoods.

This is the fifth edition of the festival, which was previously hosted by Amsterdam (2017), Lyon (2019), Helsinki (held over until 2022 due to Covid) and Barcelona (2023). During these events, the conversation moved away from numbers of ‘units’ towards communities and affordable, inclusive places to live.

These festivals have mobilised activists, housing professionals, community groups, policymakers to focus on what society can gain by pushing for excellence in housing for people and

ABOUT HOUSING EUROPE: Representing 44 national and regional federations and 16 partner organisations across 31 countries since 1988, Housing Europe oversees around 25m homes, accounting for approximately 11% of Europe’s housing stock. For further information visit www.housingeurope.eu

the planet, bringing hope and creating synergies to put solutions in place for those households and individuals now stuck in limbo.

Hosted by the Irish Council for Social Housing and Co-operative Housing Ireland, in association with Housing Europe, the fifth edition of the festival will bring an estimated 2,000 people together at the National Convention Centre in Dublin from 4-6 June.

The three-day event will feature discussions around international social and affordable housing projects with a focus on affordable homes for young people. It will also feature sessions on climate, energy, and innovation in housing delivery, while delegates will have an opportunity to visit projects around Dublin during the event.

On awarding the hosting of ISHF25 to Ireland, Housing Europe pointed to several factors including existing regeneration projects across Dublin and nationwide. Social housing currently makes up less than 10% of housing in Ireland, while the European average of social affordable housing is 18%.

FOCUS ON PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES

The Housing Commission’s report in 2024 pointed towards the need for “a targeted increase in the proportion of social and cost-rental housing to 20% of the national stock, ensuring an appropriate tenure mix”.

Donal McManus, CEO of the Irish Council for Social Housing, noted that “while housing is at a pinch point globally, together we can learn from each other, and this is why ISHF is such a brilliant opportunity.

“Projects such Iveagh Trust, developed through the Guinness Family, were fantastic examples of social housing well over a century ago in developing communities. Increasing supply and providing long-term public housing tenancies would now be major steps forward for our housing sector.”

Sorcha Edwards, Secretary General Housing Europe, said; “While news of the housing crisis dominates, every day at local level in Ireland and around Europe, we also see proof that we can change the housing paradigm to focus on people and communities.

“The festivals in Amsterdam, Lyon, Helsinki, Lyon and Barcelona proved to be a great way to highlight the need for decent housing for all. Some may question the timing of the festival in view of how the housing crisis is impacting lives in Ireland, while we argue that precisely for this reason this is the right time for Dublin to take up the baton.”

To register for ISHF 2025 www.socialhousingfestival.eu/

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COMMISSION RECOMMENDS THE BUILDING BLOCKS NEEDED TO INCREASE HOUSING DELIVERY

A new Strategic Housing Activation Unit could unlock a lot of development, according to Prof Michelle Norris, who was one of the members of the Housing Commission. She believes that local authorities should establish their own housing organisations to create sustained social and affordable delivery. Report by Garrett Mullen.

The Housing Commission has identified the shortfall in housing delivery as a serious issue and believes that there will be a deficit of up to 200,000 homes over the next five years. With an increase in the population in this country and greater household formation, a huge increase in demand for housing means there is an urgent need to increase supply.

The Commission was set up in 2022 to report on standards, tenure and quality of life issues having an impact on the provision of housing and ways to improve the delivery. Its one-year term of office was subsequently extended to give it additional time to report back, which it duly delivered with 83 cross-ranging recommendations to the Government last year.

Prof Michelle Norris, Director the Geary Institute of Public Policy at UCD, who was one of the members of the Housing

Commission, said that additional input was submitted by over 80 experts from different divisions involved in the housing sector.

HOUSING DELIVERY DEFICIT

Following his appointment as the new Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage on 23 January, James Browne TD met with members of the Housing Commission, and Prof Norris is hopeful that their recommendations are implemented. One such recommendation is to establish a Housing Delivery Oversight Executive in legislation as a decision-making body responsible for co-ordinating the delivery of housing.

Minister Browne stated following a cabinet meeting on 17 February that his department will establish a new Strategic Housing Activation Office, which will focus on overseeing the

SAY HI TO HYBRID

delivery of housing. Currently there are significant delays on large developments because of these issues, and the Minister hopes the new office will deliver joinedup thinking, to ensure that utilities such as water and sewerage are delivered to facilitate increased housing output.

According to Prof Norris, who is also a former Chair of the Housing Agency, this is “a vital reform” and she believes it would be very positive if implemented. “The system currently is very complex and there is no one in power to ensure utilities are in place to meet the delivery of housing,” she notes.

LOCAL HOUSING ORGANISATIONS

One proposal from the Commission is the creation of Local Authority Housing Organisations. Prof Norris says that Ireland

is far too centralised. “Specifications for funding are too tight and outlined centrally. What suits Dublin does not suit Dingle. It would be far better for funding to be channelled through local authorities or local taxes.

“All money comes from the centre and for local authorities to respond to the needs at a local community level. Also, local authority rents do not go into housing specifically, but to the general income of the council. Staffing in local authorities is similar to the civil service, in that there are generalists.”

She maintains that local authorities do not need to deliver directly. “They can establish specialist organisations. The Approved Housing Bodies (AHB) do not have the capacity to deliver at scale. Local authorities often lack expertise in housing management.

“There are not enough larger AHBs capable of delivering at scale, hence we feel the model should be reformed so that each local authority will have its own housing specialist organisation.

“Creating Local Authority Housing Organisations within the councils or at arm’s length would allow for local housing planning management where expertise can be developed. There is a lot of support for this proposal in local authorities…and a feeling that this reform would address quite a few issues, to be delivered at a pilot level, with a view to national roll-out.”

SUSTAINABLE HOUSING DELIVERY

Prof Norris also believes the rented system in social housing should be reformed to

The Housing Commission believes that there will be a deficit of up to 200,000 homes over the next five years.

allow for delivery to occur on a sustainable basis and believes rather than tinkering with differentials, that cost recovery should form the basis of housing finance management.

“The system we have now is vulnerable to the booms and busts of the economic cycle. While the Exchequer is currently in budget surplus and there is a will to invest in social housing, history shows capital spending on the part of the state is easy to cut and housing was drastically cut during the financial crisis, which started in 2008.

“It is important for policy to be devised to facilitate sustainable funding, to carry on through the boom and busts of the economic cycle. It is welcome that the cost rental model of housing has been introduced, as this involves financing for housing that will be paid off at the end of a loan period. The differential rental schemes applied for social housing do not represent sustainable income, as the costs of housing and maintenance far exceed the rent.”

COST RENTAL SOCIAL HOUSING

Prof Norris believes cost rental housing can be delivered as social housing. “People on low incomes would still have their rent supplemented through other subsidies such as HAP or rent supplement, in social housing, while others would pay affordable rent based on the cost of providing housing.

“This reform would allow for long term sustainable housing delivery planning on the part of those involved in social housing delivering in local authorities and approved housing bodies. Legislation should be introduced that sets out the purpose, function and ethos of social housing, which would protect the ethos of sector and would develop consistency in its administration.”

OTHER FINANCE STREAMS

Prof Norris says that while the AHBs may worry about their debt levels, she adds that they are state guaranteed. “This is not such a risk, but a big risk is the level of dependence on the state and its balance sheet. Historically the sector is well funded when the economy is doing well and cut drastically when economy is in difficulty.

“Revenue for delivery of social housing needs to be sustainable and this can be achieved through its rental model. Property taxes should also be used for developing housing. The cost rental model allows for servicing of debt and this growth can attract other sources of finance such as bank finance.

Prof Michelle Norris, Director the Geary Institute of Public Policy at UCD, was one of the members of the Housing Commission.

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INCREASED DELIVERY CAPACITY

Policy needs to be developed to increase housing delivery capacity, and Prof Norris believes there are relatively few largescale developers and, therefore, claims that increasing the number of capable companies is vital.

“Instead of four to five large AHBs, there needs to be more like nine or ten. Combined with the creation of Local Authority Housing Organisations, the three areas of private developers, AHBs and LAHOs could drive delivery,” she points out.

“Policy changes to encourage modular builds, back garden accommodations, living above the shop schemes, brownfield developments and elsewhere can make a difference, but there are particular considerations in relation to each of these areas.”

Prof Norris also points out that while modular buildings have potential, there’s a small market for this in Ireland. “The state might need to play a central role to develop its potential. As regards log cabin accommodation in the back garden, we need to be conscious that it does not become slum rental housing, while over-the-shop units are more challenging. However, the funding does not appear to be there, while planning and regulations are barriers to stopping development of overthe-shop living.

“Derelict home grants are only available for buildings where the building has previously been used for housing or has planning permission for housing, which is quite a short-sighted policy. The bigger issue for over the shop

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development is regulation. It is very onerous and there needs to be ‘one-stop-shop’ application system to get this delivered, because there are loads of benefits for such development.”

Prof Norris adds: ‘Living over the shop, modular building or back garden living are not game changers in and of themselves, but they are levers that need to be pulled to ensure delivery meets the need. All levers need to be pulled.”

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LOWDOWN ON LAMA AWARD WINNERS FOR 2025

This year’s LAMA’s All-Ireland Community and Council Awards once again recognised and celebrated local authorities and communities working together, across a range of categories from community, economic development and infrastructure initiatives to collaboration, leadership and environmental schemes.

Pictured at the presentation of 'Council of the Year' award to Donegal on 22 February at the Rochestown Park Hotel, Cork (l-r): Cllr Jack Murray, Cathaoirleach of Inishowen Municipal District, Cllr Gerry McMonagle, Mayor of Letterkenny-Milford Municipal District, Margaret Fitzgerald, Donegal County Council's Healthy Donegal Co-ordinator, Cathaoirleach Cllr Niamh Kennedy, Chief Executive John McLaughlin, Garry Martin, Director of Service Economic Development, Information Systems and Emergency Services, Noelle Alcorn, Donegal County Council, Cllr John Shéamais Ó Fearraigh, Cathaoirleach of Glenties Municipal District, Cllr Liam Blaney, Donegal County Council and LAMA Representative, and Elaine Harley, Donegal's Executive Architect.

Donegal County Council won the ‘Council of the Year’ Award 2025 at the LAMA (Local Authority Members’ Association) AllIreland Community and Council Awards in February.

The accolade followed Donegal’s previous success at the Chambers Ireland's Excellence in Local Government Awards in November 2024, when it took home the overall ‘Local Authority of the Year’ award.

Cathaoirleach Cllr Niamh Kennedy, who represented Donegal County Council at the awards ceremony, along with Chief Executive John McLaughlin, council members and staff, said the award “reflects the relentless work that councillors and council staff do for the people of our community, developing innovative projects and initiatives to improve and enhance the social environmental, cultural and economic aspects of community

lives in Donegal. It was an honour to attend on the night and watch our county shine”.

Donegal Chief Executive John McLaughlin described it as “a great reflection” on the work of the Council. “It celebrates the unique and symbiotic relationship enjoyed by Donegal County Council and its communities and showcases how collaborative work between the Council, the community and volunteers create a better place to live and work.”

Donegal County Council also picked up two other LAMA category awards. It topped the ‘Best Communications Initiative’ category for its approach to showcasing Donegal’s identity, fostering community engagement, and driving economic growth with the ‘Love Donegal Campaign’.

The ‘Best Business Working with the Community’ category was in recognition of ‘Spraoi agus Spórt’ – a social enterprise in Carndonagh which reinvests its profits to strengthen the local community and stimulate economic growth. The Council was also shortlisted in a further six categories.

CELEBRATING COMMUNITY PROJECTS

This year’s All-Ireland Community and Council Awards were presented by LAMA (Local Authority Members’ Association) and IPB Insurance, at Cork’s Rochestown Park Hotel on 22 February. Now in its 19th year, the awards ceremony was an opportunity to recognise and celebrate Ireland’s local communities and councils working together.

The award categories ranged from community, economic development and infrastructure initiatives to collaboration/ leadership and environmental schemes. Growing year by year in stature, this year’s awards attracted a record 311 nominations from across the 31 councils, subsequently whittled down to 137 shortlisted projects across the 25 categories.

The award winners ranged from ‘Best Community Wellbeing Initiative’, won by the County Carlow Farmer Wellbeing, to ‘Best Housing Regeneration’, won by Fingal’s Portrane Avenue, to Community Volunteer of the Year, awarded to South Dublin’s Bernie Roche.

Highlights of the evening saw Fingal County Council winning five awards, including the Grand Prix Award (for the second year running) for having the most shortlisted and winning projects combined over an aggregate score. Donegal’s success in winning the ‘Council of the Year’, while South Dublin County Council scored a hat-trick, including the National Impact Award for ‘Clonburris: A Transformative Vision and a Model for Sustainable Urban Development’.

LAMA Chair Cllr Damien Ryan, noted that each one of the 31 local authorities wholeheartedly supported the LAMA awards, and added that the standard of entries had gone from strength-tostrength year on year.

Speaking at the launch of the 2025 Awards late last year, Cllr Ryan said they were “a fantastic opportunity to recognise and appreciate the excellent work and commitment of people right across the country who have a deeprooted sense of pride and appreciation for their respective communities”.

2025 LAMA Award Winners

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SNAPSHOTS FROM THIS YEAR'S LAMA AWARDS

Mayor of Fingal Cllr Brian McDonagh, and Chief Executive AnnMarie Farrelly led the Fingal County Council delegation in Cork, after winning five LAMA awards, including Grand Prix (for the second year running).

Pictured at the presentation of the ‘Best Environmental/ Ecological Project’ category award to Galway County Council (l-r): Meliosa McIntyre, Senior Executive Librarian, Elizabeth Keane, Galway County and City Librarian; Cllr Martina Kinnane, Cathaoirleach of the County of Galway; and Liam Conneally, Chief Executive.

The Southern Regional Assembly (SRA), Northern & Western Regional Assembly (NWRA) and Eastern & Midlands Regional Assembly (EMRA) sponsored the ‘Best Housing Regeneration & Urban Planning’ category, which was awarded to Fingal County Council for the Portrane Avenue project. Assembly members (l-r): SRA’s Kevin Lynch and Padraig O’Shea, EMRA’s Anne-Marie Wood Wolfe and NWRA’s Gerry Doyle.

South Dublin County Council scored a hat-trick, including the National Impact Award. Pictured (l-r): Cllr Damien Ryan, LAMA Chair; Cllr Brian Lawlor, LAMA General Secretary; Cllr Alan Hayes, Deputy Mayor of South Dublin County; John Hogan, Chair of IPB Insurance; Michael McAdam, SDCC A/Director of Land Use Planning and Transportation; Cllrs Liona O’ Toole and Lynn McCrave; Eoin Burke, SDCC Senior Planner; Cllrs Caroline Brady and Ronan McMahon.

Pictured at the presentation of the ‘Best Enterprise Start-Up Hub’ award – one of two category awards won by Sligo County Council (l-r): Cllr Damien Ryan, Mayo County Council & LAMA Chairperson; Joe Lowe, Head of Local Enterprise, Leitrim County Council; Cllr John Sheehan, Limerick City & County Council; Zainab Saleem, Advanced Manufacturing Systems Engineer at AIM Centre Sligo; Sligo’s Cathaoirleach Cllr Declan Bree, Chief Executive Martin Lydon, and Town Regeneration Officer Brían Flynn.

at the announcement of

Pictured

the 2025 awards at the Rochestown Park Hotel in Cork (l-r): John Hogan, Chairman of IPB Insurance, LAMA’s Chair Cllr Damien Ryan, Cork’s Cllr Terry Shannon, and LAMA General Secretary Brian Lawlor.

IRELAND’S GREENWAY PROJECTS ON TRACK TO RECEIVE €67M FUNDING

Total funding of €67m has been allocated by the Government for Greenways and National Roads Active Travel infrastructure through Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) to support the delivery of several Greenway projects throughout the country over the coming year.

Approximately 24km of Greenways are expected to be rolled out this year, with further section openings expected on the Grand Canal Greenway and the South-East Greenway, while work is to continue on the South Kerry Greenway and other projects across the country.

Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien, Minister of State Seán Canney and Minister of State Jerry Buttimer recently announced the €67m allocation, which will also be used to fund up to 60 Greenway schemes to move through the planning and design stages. These include the Fingal Coastal Way, Limerick to Scarriff, Burtonport to Letterkenny Greenway and the Arklow to Shillelagh Greenway.

The allocation will also be used to enable delivery of active travel infrastructure on national roads, and to progress the National Cycle Network which identifies 3,500 km of cycling corridors around the country linking cities and towns.

Broadmeadow Way – a 6km off-road cycling and walking route linking Malahide and Donabate across the scenic Broadmeadow Estuary – is due for completion in 2026.

WALKING/CYCLING SCHEMES

This allocation of €67m for the Greenways programme is in addition to €293m, which has been allocated to fund the Active Travel programme, as announced

by the National Transport Authority (NTA) in January 2025. This programme supports a range of walking and cycling schemes including improved pedestrian environments, new segregated cycling lanes, pedestrian and cycling bridges, and pedestrian crossings.

Minister O’Brien said that the combined allocation of €360m this year for active travel and greenway infrastructure demonstrates the government’s strong commitment to expanding sustainable transport options.

“This funding will support the development of high-quality walking and cycling facilities in cities, towns, village and rural areas. The €67m investment will help deliver key greenway projects all over the country.

“For example, there is great excitement in my local community of Malahide as we anticipate the completion of the Broadmeadow Greenway in 2026, and we look forward to the progression of the Fingal Coastal Scheme north to Balbriggan.”

PROGRESS TOWARDS VISION ZERO

Minister of State Seán Canney said that the continued expansion of our walking

Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien pictured in Malahide, following his announcement of €67m in funding for Greenways for the year ahead.

and cycling network through greenway and active travel infrastructure on Ireland’s national roads is crucial in offering safe travel options to cyclists and pedestrians. “It also contributes to our progress towards Vision Zero, our road safety strategy which sets out to achieve zero road fatalities or serious injuries by 2050.”

Minister of State Jerry Buttimer added that greenways have represented a tremendous success for rural Ireland. “They showcase our beautiful landscape, bringing visitors to overlooked areas and helping small local businesses to thrive. Greenways also provide an outdoor recreational facility to be enjoyed by all members of the community.”

Peter Walsh, Chief Executive of TII, noted that the 2025 Greenway funding highlights the commitment of the Department of Transport and the Government to deliver active travel options throughout the country. “TII along with our local authority partners will continue to deliver and progress these important projects,” he concluded.

For more information on the range of Greenways visit https://greenwaysireland.org/

The Waterford Greenway won the Grand Prix Award and was also crowned Ireland’s ‘Best Tourism Initiative at the LAMA Community and Council Tourism Awards in 2018.

Further section openings are expected on the Grand Canal Greenway this year.

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CHI CALLS FOR MORE SUPPORT TO DELIVER

Social and Affordable Housing Nationwide

Co-operative Housing Ireland (CHI) recently completed 40 new homes at Forthview in Wexford and used the opportunity to emphasise to the new Minister for Housing, the key role played by Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) in meeting social housing needs nationwide.

Wexford’s Leas Cathaoirleach, Ger Carthy joined the Housing Minister James Browne in launching the social housing development, delivered in partnership with Wexford County Council, the Department of Housing, Housing Finance Agency and developer, Darragh Ryan.

Gerry McDonogh, Chairperson of CHI, emphasised the strong partnership CHI has with the Department of Housing and the need for funding to increase to keep pace, and to deliver more social housing.

“To enable CHI and Approved Housing Bodies to keep pace with current delivery targets – even before any revision –increased funding, a proportion in the form of grants, is required. As it stands, 10,000 new social homes are to be provided in 2025, half of which will be by AHBs. The Programme for Government and future targets should see this increase to an average of 12,000-20,000 year on year to 2030.

“This development is a testament to the strength of cooperative housing, the importance of collaboration in delivering homes that meet the needs of communities, and we want to do more. We are delighted to welcome families into their new homes here in Forthview.”

“The delivery of these new homes at Forthview is a great example of what can be achieved when local authorities, AHBs, and the Government work together. Co-operative Housing Ireland now provides 331 homes to households in Wexford.

“Wexford County Council is committed to providing safe, highquality homes for families and individuals, and this development marks a significant step forward in that effort,” noted Cllr Ger Carthy Leas Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council.

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne TD said that the project, enabled by funding from his Department's Capital Advance Leasing Facility, reflects the strong state and voluntary sector collaboration needed to make these projects happen.

Minister for Housing, James Browne TD (centre) pictured at the launch of the new homes in Wexford with (l-r): CHI's National Operations Manager Danny Whelan, Director of New Business Development Padraic Clancy, Chairperson Gerry McDonogh and Neighbourhood Delivery Manager Eimear Lynch.

“The Government is now scaling up and delivering more social and affordable homes than we have in a generation and aims to provide even more. Well located, high-quality homes such as Forthview make a real difference in the lives of families, individuals and communities.”

SUPPORTING HOUSING DELIVERY AMID CHALLENGES

Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) continue to be a key part of Ireland’s housing solution, delivering over half of all new social homes last year. Their role has become even more important as private sector investment in apartment construction has slowed, particularly following a retreat of overseas investment since 2021.

By stepping in to fund and develop homes, AHBs are ensuring that much-needed housing continues to be built, providing stability and security for individuals and families across the country.

A total of 54% of households in Ireland cannot afford to rent without assistance, highlighting the essential role of social and cost-rental housing. Housing charities like CHI and other AHBs provide homes that remain affordable for generations, offering long-term security instead of contributing to market fluctuations.

The Housing Commission, appointed by the Government, recommended that social and cost-rental housing should make up 20% of the Ireland’s housing stock. In order to achieve this, annual social housing targets will need to increase considerably, according to the CHI, with increased and diversified funding for AHBs required to make this a reality.

Minister for Housing, James Browne TD with new residents at Forthview - sisters Nicole and Rachel Zsurzs.

LOCAL AUTHORITIES STEP UP CO2 PERFORMANCE LADDER

Using Green Procurement Strategy

The Irish Green Building Council is piloting the CO2 Performance Ladder that will empower local authorities to cut their carbon emissions through purchasing decisions. The new tool now offers a userfriendly and affordable framework that will make implementing a green procurement strategy significantly more straightforward.

In a year marked by record-breaking temperatures, with the construction and the built environment matching agriculture's 37% share of Ireland's national emissions1, urgent action to decarbonise this sector is no longer optional.

Ireland’s Climate Action Plan 2024 stresses the public sector must lead by example on climate action. While each local authority must reduce greenhouse gas emissions across its assets and infrastructure, they must also take on the broader role of reducing emissions throughout their jurisdictional area through collaboration.

In Ireland, public bodies spend an estimated €18.5 billion a year on goods, services and works. This provides Ireland’s public sector with significant influence to stimulate and actively encourage the provision of more resource-efficient, low-carbon, less polluting goods, services and works in the marketplace.

April 2024 saw the Irish government launch ‘Buying Greener: Green Public Procurement Strategy and Action Plan 2024-2027’, signalling a strong commitment to embedding green and circular procurement practices.

CO2 PERFORMANCE LADDER

Embedding Green Public Procurement (GPP) into local authorities’ practice can be challenging and time-consuming. The CO2 Performance Ladder offers a user-friendly and affordable framework that makes implementing GPP significantly more straightforward.

The ladder has been employed in the Netherlands since 2009 and is recognised as best practice in green procurement by several bodies like the OECD, the World Economic Forum and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Over 300 contracting authorities in Europe, including local authorities, ministries, and other semi-public bodies, already use it in their tendering processes.

The Irish Green Building Council (IGBC) is now piloting this tool, offering Irish Local Authorities a powerful new instrument to address climate change through their purchasing decisions.

Transport Infrastructure Ireland, for example, has already integrated the ladder as a GPP tool into the tender document for the M7 Kildare bypass pavement project, leading to a significant reduction in project emissions.

HOW THE LADDER WORKS

As a tendering instrument, the CO2 Performance Ladder consists of five implementation levels for CO2 management in projects, encouraging contractors to reduce carbon emissions within the project. The system creates a win-win scenario for both public bodies and businesses by integrating sustainability directly into the tendering process:

• Organisations certified on the Ladder receive a tangible award advantage during tendering (up to 10% discount on tendering costs)

• Higher certification levels translate to greater advantages.

• Commissioning parties determine the specific award advantages at each level.

• Organisations are not required to be certified during the tendering process. However, they bid with the commitment to achieve certification within a specified timeframe.

PROVEN SUCCESS IN AMSTERDAM

The Dutch capital is a successful example, incorporating the CO2 Performance Ladder as an award criterion in hundreds of tenders annually. This systematic approach has become essential in advancing the municipality's climate ambitions.

Organisations certified through the ladder not only actively reduce their carbon emissions but gain a competitive edge in securing public projects, thereby creating a virtuous cycle of environmental and economic benefits.

Support Available for Local Authorities

The IGBC offers comprehensive support to local authorities interested in testing and implementing this tool in Ireland, including the following:

• Expert advice on suitable tender types and legal implementation

• Capacity building for suppliers new to the Ladder system

• Participation in pre-tendering market engagement

• Knowledge-sharing sessions with experienced international users

As local authorities face mounting pressure to address climate impacts, the CO2 Performance Ladder represents a practical step forward – one that aligns environmental priorities with procurement processes already in place.

For further information visit www.co2performanceladder.com or email project manager Marianne Ibrahim at marianne@igbc.ie

MAYNOOTH TEAM MAPS OUT FIRST NATIONAL CENSUS ATLAS

The National Census Atlas – a new visual mapping tool developed by a team of researchers in Maynooth University – will now enable local authorities, planners and policymakers to get a detailed view of economic and social trends emerging across the country.

Ireland is the first country to develop a comprehensive national mapping resource of this type. Unique in its scope and detail, the National Census Atlas, developed by the AllIsland Research Observatory (AIRO) at Maynooth University in collaboration with Ireland's three Regional Assemblies, now positions Ireland as an example of international best practice.

This innovative approach aims to highlight this country’s commitment to leveraging data for sustainable development and inclusive planning. A key advancement will be the ability to allow local authorities to develop their own maps tailored to their counties, cities and towns, local electoral areas and municipal districts. This feature will empower local authorities and elected members to better understand and respond to the unique needs of their communities and help advance regional development.

The census map, which is expected to result in better planning and policy formulation, will provide a view of over 200 social, economic and environmental indicators at neighbourhood level across the country.

It will enable users to explore a wealth of data in an accessible and interactive format, ranging from housing trends and employment statistics to environmental factors and population changes. The atlas is based on data from the CSO Census 2022 results.

For example, the tool shows levels of population change over the last 20 years, highlighting areas of major population growth alongside regions experiencing continual population decline.

It also gives insights into the clustering of employment in sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing industries, and professional services. While primarily aimed at the planning sector, the atlas will be used as a support tool for government departments and state bodies, local authorities and community groups.

It is also hoped that, in time, the tool will be used by secondary and third-level students to provide insights and a better understanding of the social and economic characteristics of the country.

“GROUNDBREAKING TOOL”

On formally launching the National Census Atlas in Athlone in February, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Peter Burke TD described it as “a groundbreaking tool” in providing access to key data.

“It will be instrumental in supporting evidence-based policymaking. We’re the first country to develop such a resource, positioning Ireland at the forefront of international best practice,” he added.

A new section on the Regional Development Monitor (RDM), dedicated to key Smart Specialisation Strategy indicators, was also unveiled by Minister Burke. The Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3) Dashboard was developed in collaboration with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE).

“This tool will help monitor the progress of our National Smart Specialisation Strategy, monitor our regional innovation

The National Census Atlas offers detailed mapping data on local neighbourhoods for informed decision making at local level.

David Kelly, SRA Director; Clare Bannon, EMRA Director; Minister Peter Burke TD; Denis Kelly, NWRA Director, and AIRO Director Justin Gleeson at the launch of the National Census Atlas in Athlone on 6 February.

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performance and enable regions to focus on their strengths,” according to Minister Burke.

He described these new tools as “fantastic additions” to the Regional Development Monitor (RDM), which he had launched in November 2022, adding that this will be “crucial to future policy development”.

DEMOCRATISING ACCESS TO KEY DATA

Emphasising the significance of the initiative, Justin Gleeson, Director of AIRO at Maynooth University, said the atlas represents a major step forward in democratising access to data.

“By providing granular insights at the neighbourhood level, this tool empowers stakeholders across Ireland to identify needs, allocate resources effectively, and plan for a sustainable future. It is a fantastic example of public sector collaboration in Ireland and the use of publicly funded data collection initiatives,” he added.

The project was made possible through direction and funding from the three Regional Assemblies of Ireland – the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly, the Northern and Western Regional Assembly and the Southern Regional Assembly.

Clare Bannon, Director of the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly, said the project highlights the power of collaboration in advancing regional development goals. “This initiative offers a new perspective on Ireland’s evolving social, economic, and environmental landscape. This tool is a great addition to the Regional Development Monitor, which has become a key resource for local and regional authorities in Ireland.”

Examples of the tool in use

The National Census Atlas illustrates its potential to support current and future policy development for key social issues, such as…

• Population change: The tool shows levels of population change over the last twenty years, highlighting areas of major population growth alongside regions experiencing continual population decline.

• Household heating sources: The atlas details variations in household heating methods within and across counties, providing essential data for policies aimed at achieving a just transition from fossil fuels.

• Employment clustering: Insights into the clustering of employment in sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing industries, and professional services can guide regional economic development strategies.

• Religious affiliation trends: The tool reveals differing trends in religious affiliation between urban and rural areas, offering a nuanced understanding of cultural shifts.

• Commuting patterns: Detailed data on commuting patterns to cities and large towns helps inform transport and infrastructure planning.

For further information on the census mapping tool visit https://rdm.geohive.ie/

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SMART SOLUTIONS FOR SAFER COMMUNITIES

Dublin City University Pilots Digital Twin Technology

Dublin City University’s campus is currently being used to trial and refine digital twin applications in a bid to improve real-time decision-making during emergencies. Part of the Digital Twins for Emergency Management project, the pilot scheme is testing the technology before deployment across the wider Dublin City Council area, and subsequently on a national scale. ‘Council Review’ gets the lowdown.

for

DCU Business School, DCU Insight and Dublin Fire Brigade (DFB) are pioneering the next generation of smart emergency management solutions. By harnessing their combined expertise, these strategic partners are spearheading groundbreaking innovations in digital twin technology, setting a new benchmark for risk assessment, pre-incident planning, and emergency management.

The Digital Twins for Emergency Management (DT4EM) project is revolutionising traditional emergency management practices, particularly in terms of pre-incident planning with Dublin Fire Brigade (DFB). Historically, these procedures have relied on paperbased methods, requiring extensive time and effort to create and retrieve critical information during emergencies.

The DT4EM project now aims to

fully digitise this process, drastically reducing the time needed for pre-incident planning. With this new framework, all essential data will be accessible on a digital device, significantly enhancing the speed and efficiency of emergency response.

This collaboration between DCU Business School, DCU Insight and DFB is now poised to transform emergency management, enhancing real-time decision-making and operational efficiency through cutting-edge digital solutions.

REAL-TIME DECISION-MAKING

A key objective of the DT4EM project is to improve real-time decision-making during emergencies. By creating a dynamic 3D model of emergency sites, digital twin technology integrates live data from multiple sources, providing emergency

responders with instant access to crucial information such as building layouts, hazard locations, and resource availability. This enhanced situational awareness allows for optimised resource deployment, helping first responders and campus managers make quicker, more informed decisions in critical situations.

MULTI-STAKEHOLDER COLLABORATION

The project is driven by a multidisciplinary collaboration between DCU’s Insight Centre, Smart DCU, Bentley Systems, DCU Business School and DFB. By combining academic research with emergency management expertise, this partnership fosters innovation and ensures the technology is both practical and impactful. DCU’s campuses currently serve as a testbed for trialling and refining digital twin applications before wider

DCU’s campus is a testbed

trialling and refining the application of digital twin technology before the wider implementation across the Dublin City Council region.

implementation. The campus infrastructure offers a controlled yet complex environment for realistic emergency scenario testing, ensuring the technology is rigorously validated before it is deployed across the Dublin City Council area, and subsequently on a national scale.

INNOVATION IN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

A recent event at DCU Business School brought together members of the Emergency Management Institute Ireland (EMII) and leading experts in emergency management to explore the transformative potential of digital twin technology.

Organised by Prof Caroline McMullan and researcher Romal Thakkar, the breakfast briefing event showcased the project’s innovative strategies for enhancing risk and emergency management.

Experts from DCU’s Insight Centre, DCU Business School, and Dublin Fire Brigade delivered insightful presentations on the practical applications of digital twin technology in emergency management.

Dr Ali Intizar, Co-Principal Investigator of the DT4EM project at DCU School of Electronic Engineering, shared groundbreaking insights into the future of pre-incident planning and emergency management strategies, alongside Dr Jaime Fernandez from Insight Centre, and DFB’s Michael O’Donnell and Robert Howell.

"Over recent years, we have successfully created a digital twin of DCU campuses, enhanced with real-time data analytics. This highlights the transformative power of digital technologies for smart city applications, significantly improving our quality of life and society.

“The DT4EM project exemplifies the crucial real-world impact of digital twin technologies, particularly in emergency response and risk management, where their benefits are most critical,” according to Dr Intizar.

PIONEERING FUTURE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

The successful adoption of digital twin technology will pave the way for a safer, more responsive future, enhancing emergency management both on campus and across the city.

“The DT4EM project, spearheaded by Insight/DCU and Dublin Fire Brigade, holds the potential to redefine the emergency services sector by integrating advanced academic and sectorspecific expertise.

“By leveraging real-time data, the project empowers emergency responders to act with greater precision, reducing response times and ultimately safeguarding lives in critical situations," noted Celine Heffernan, Business Development Manager at the Insight Centre.

TRANSFORMING LIVES AND SOCIETIES

"Digital twin technology represents a transformative leap forward in emergency management, allowing us to simulate and visualise realworld scenarios in real-time. By bridging the gap between digital innovation and practical emergency response, we can ensure faster, more informed decisions that save lives and protect communities," Romal Thakkar, DT4EM Project Researcher, pointed out.

Prof Caroline McMullan, Co-Principal Investigator of the DT4EM project, said it is “incredibly exciting to collaborate with leading experts in data analytics, digital technology, emergency management, in addition to the fire and rescue service to create a best-in-class approach to pre-incident planning and broader emergency management”.

Prof McMullan said that this partnership not only enhances risk and emergency management capabilities on the university campus in the short term “but also lays the foundation for a transformational shift in this field over the medium and longer term”.

PRE-PLANNING TO POST-INCIDENT ANALYSIS

Dennis Keeley, Dublin Fire Brigade’s Chief Fire Officer, told the EMII breakfast meeting that assisting emergency response technology is only as good as its usability, adding that “clear added value; if it is not simple, intuitive and does not solve problems immediately, then firefighters are less likely to adopt any of these initiatives”.

The DT4EM project is being developed with practitioners and academics from DFB and DCU/Insight Centre, and DFB’s fire chief said that every aspect of the project is being developed with user experience and safety benefits in mind.

“Upon completion, it is anticipated that the integration of this project will help streamline everything from pre-planning and training to emergency response to post-incident analysis,” he pointed out.

Dr Ali Intizar, co-principal investigator of the project, shared his insights on pre-incident planning and emergency management, using digital twin technology.

Pat Leahy, former Garda Assistant Commissioner, explores the potential of the digital twin technology using Virtual Reality at the EMII breakfast briefing at DCU Business School.

Cutting the ribbon at the official launch of the first phase in September 2024 – the then Taoiseach Simon Harris, Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien and John Coleman, CEO of the LDA pictured with Frank Curran, DLR Chief Executive, other officials and representatives.

LDA STRENGTHENS PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL AUTHORITES

Building on its strong relationship with local authorities to realise its ambition of maximising the delivery of affordable homes, the Land Development Agency’s first direct delivery project in Dublin represents the largest state-delivered housing initiative in decades and is the first to be directly delivered by the Agency on state-owned land and in partnership with a local authority.

Representing a landmark moment for the LDA, the launch of Shanganagh Castle Estate in Shankill, Co. Dublin is the first project partnership between the Agency and Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council (DLR).

The first phase of the largest state-delivered housing project in decades - consisting of 597 affordable purchase, cost rental and social homes - was officially launched in September 2024, by the then Taoiseach Simon Harris and Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien.

Speaking at the launch event, John Coleman, Chief Executive of the LDA, 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.

Congratulating both the LDA and DLR, Simon Harris said the delivery of affordable housing on state-owned land was a priority for the government and that Shanganagh Castle Estate was a “testament to what can be achieved”.

PHASED PROJECT LAUNCH

Shanganagh Castle Estate serves as a tangible example of what can be achieved, with 597 homes being launched in phases. Phase one includes 51 affordable purchase houses, 195 cost rental apartments and 35 social apartments. The remaining 316 homes, all of which are apartments, will be made available in two subsequent phases this year.

With the application of Government supports through equity contributions overseen by DLR, prices for the affordable purchase homes in Shanganagh start at just €334,600 while rents for the

Shanganagh Castle Estate in Shankill, Co. Dublin is the latest project partnership between the LDA and Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.

The 597 homes are being rolled out over three phases – phase one includes 51 affordable purchase houses, 195 cost rental apartments and 35 social apartments. The remaining 316 homes, all of which are apartments, will be made available in two subsequent phases.

cost rental apartments begin at €1,175 a month, which is at least 30% lower than equivalent market rates.

Eligible candidates have an opportunity to secure a new home in a location next to Shanganagh Park and 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.

In addition to the location in Shankill, residents should also enjoy low-cost living in what will be one of Europe’s largest passive housing schemes, once fully completed.

TWO DELIVERY CHANNELS

The state’s affordable housing body is delivering new homes through two main channels.

The first is direct delivery and involves the development of housing on stateowned or acquired land.

The second involves housebuilder partnerships, where the LDA partners with homebuilders and provides the financial impetus required to complete housing projects.

Significant progress is being made on both fronts. The latest update shows a pipeline of over 21,000 homes across 44 sites. Meanwhile, the LDA has already delivered,

Walls Construction was thanked for its work alongside Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown Council Council, in delivering the project by John Coleman, Chief Executive of the LDA (inset).

or is in the process of delivering, almost 3,000 homes through its homebuilder partnerships with a further 5,000 planned by 2028.

Given this level of activity, the LDA should soon be able to deliver over 2,000 homes a year, meaning it is now on course to become the country’s largest home provider.

To realise its future ambition, the Agency needs access to state-owned land. While several sites have already been transferred by state agencies and commercial semi-states, the LDA is also increasingly working with local authorities to deliver new affordable and social homes on land owned by councils.

Working in partnership with the LDA means that local authorities may avail of the Agency’s expertise and support in all aspects of housing development,

ensuring the maximum potential of any site is realised and helping to speed up the delivery process.

OTHER PROJECTS IN PIPELINE

For the LDA, it offers the opportunity to work alongside trusted local authority teams who are at the heart of the areas involved and have a long history of providing key services to existing communities.

Working together, the LDA and local authorities can ensure the delivery of not just new affordable and social homes, but new thriving and sustainable communities. And the figures show it is proving to be an effective approach.

In addition to Shanganagh Castle Estate, for example, the LDA is also working with Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council on plans to develop 934

new homes at Dundrum Central on the site of the former Central Mental Hospital.

Elsewhere in Dublin, the Agency is working in partnership with Dublin City Council (DCC) to deliver 543 homes at the Donore Project at St Teresa’s Gardens, in addition to 146 new homes at Cromcastle in Coolock, Dublin 5.

Plans have also been approved for the first phase of over 1,000 homes at Cherry Orchard Point in Dublin 10. The LDA and Dublin City Council are also working in partnership to develop almost 400 homes at Bluebell Waterways in Dublin 12.

In Galway, the LDA and Galway City Council have sought the public’s views on a proposal to build 219 homes at Dyke Road, while in Limerick, the Agency is working with Limerick City and County Council to develop 183 homes in Mungret, 6km south-west of the city centre.

Planning permission has been granted for over 700 cost rental and social homes at Cherry Orchard Point in Dublin 12.

Enabling works has now started on the Donore Project, in association with Dublin City Council, and the development will deliver almost 550 homes at the St Teresa’s Gardens site in Dublin 8, in addition to a new creche, community spaces and landscaped public areas.

In partnership with Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, the LDA has lodged plans for 934 new homes at Dundrum Central with a Part 10 Planning Application.

HOUSING AGENCY TRAINING PROGRAMMES

Responding to Needs of Local Authority Staff

As the scope and complexity of work facing housing practitioners expands, the Agency is committed to delivering high-quality training. The Housing Agency, working with its partners in the Housing Training Network, provide a coordinated approach to delivering training opportunities for housing practitioners. These can take the form of information webinars and practice-based workshops to one and two-day training sessions and accredited education courses.

The previous Training Needs Analysis, carried out in 2021, led to several targeted training initiatives, including on Tenant Engagement, and the particularly popular Trauma-Informed Care webinar series, which was viewed more than 2,000 times.

It also led to the on-going development of a National Apprenticeship in Social and Affordable Housing and Housing Services. A consortium with representatives from local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies is working with SOLAS and City of Dublin Education Training Board to develop the apprenticeship programme. Work on this important project is progressing well with the goal of launching the apprenticeship in 2026.

NEW ANALYSIS OF TRAINING NEEDS

With a view to developing more training opportunities this year and in the coming years, the Agency carried out the new Training Needs Analysis. Almost 200 housing practitioners completed the survey questionnaire with the largest cohort of respondents (57%) from local authorities. They identified Affordable Housing and Housing Needs Assessments as training priorities.

Others who responded to the survey included those working with Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), government bodies and charities.

The results of the survey show that there is a huge appetite for training in the housing sector with over three-quarters of respondents saying they or their staff were

Rouse delivers a presentation at the Housing Practitioners’ Conference for 2023 in Limerick.

either ‘very likely’ or ‘likely’ to undertake housing training within the next five years. Their priorities are to gain knowledge and information and to learn practical skills.

When choosing housing training courses for their teams, managers saw the relevance of the course (60%), delivery mode (45%) and opportunity to meet other housing practitioners (40%) as very important.

While just over half of respondents (52%) preferred a blend of in-person and online training, there was a slight increase from the previous Training Needs Analysis in those whose preference was for on-site classroom learning (21% to 27%) and a fall in those who preferred remote learning (19% to 15%).

MAIN PRIORITIES IDENTIFIED

Across all respondent groups, and not just the local authorities, there was overwhelming support for introductory baseline training, housing policy

overviews for managers and top-up sessions for frontline staff.

Within the area of Housing Delivery and Supply, the most important topic for local authorities was housing delivery overviews, while for AHBs, the emphasis was on building standards, procurement and financing for housing development.

Under the headline of Housing Management, local authority respondents identified database management and asset management as their priorities. In the Customer Facing area, the topics of interest for local authority housing practitioners included working with vulnerable service users, anti-social behaviour, mediation training and tenant engagement.

Meanwhile when it came to Social Inclusion, the most important topics for local authorities were housing and older people and people with disabilities. In the area of Housing

The Housing Agency’s David

Q4 2021

Q1 2022

Q1 2023

Q2-Q4 2022

4 x meetings of the consortium to inform the content of the apprenticeship proposal

Application to SOLAS & Apprenticeship Alliance

Q4 2023

Apprenticeship proposal accepted, funding approved and enters programme development

Q1-Q4 2024

Consortium to approve course content and prepare for submission to QQI Panel for approval in June 2025.

Skills, Policy and Governance, the Delivery of Governance & Regulation and Housing Law training scored consistently highly for all respondents. Local authorities also saw high scoring for Sustainable Communities and Housing Affordability training.

The Agency will now take the information garnered from the latest Training Needs Analysis to inform future training provision and prioritise and plan the delivery of future training.

The progression of the Social and Affordable Housing and Housing Services Apprenticeship. Almost 200 housing practitioners completed the

For more information about research published by The Housing Agency visit Publications | The Housing Agency. Recordings of previous training sessions can be found at The Housing Agency - YouTube

For more information on upcoming courses visit the Housing Training Home - Housing Training Portal or email the Housing Agency at training@housingagency.ie to discuss your training needs.

from local authorities.

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IRELAND'S HOUSING CRISIS:

Progress Amid Persistent Challenges

Last year saw the lowest number of housing units granted permission in a six-year period, and while housing completions are predicted to rise to 42,000 in 2025, this falls significantly short of the Government's target of 50,500 homes annually every year between now and 2030, according to Fidelma McManus, Stuart Conaty and Jeanie Kelly from Beauchamps.

As Ireland continues to grapple with its housing crisis, the Central Statistics Office (CSO) confirmed in March that only 30,330 houses were completed in 2024, marking a decline from the previous year.1

Over the past decade, various legislative and policy measures have been introduced to address the crisis and increase housing delivery. One of the earliest was the Strategic Housing Development (SHD) regime, introduced to accelerate the delivery of large housing developments.

The numerous problems with the SHD regime have been well publicised, with the final backlog of approximately 29 SHD permissions still currently awaiting determination by An Bord Pleanála (the ‘Board’).

The SHD regime was replaced with the Large-scale Residential Development (LRD) consenting process in late 2021. To date, the LRD regime has marked a significant improvement in the consenting of housing when compared to its predecessor. Consenting timelines for housing projects have decreased, particularly before the Board, with almost all LRD appeals being determined within the statutory objective of 16 weeks.

JUDICIAL REVIEW CHALLENGES

Judicial review challenges have also significantly decreased. So far, only nine LRD permissions have been challenged and only two of those have been quashed. In contrast, nearly one in three of all SHD permissions granted were subject to judicial reviews, resulting at best in lengthy delays and, at worst, a large proportion of such permissions being quashed.

Despite these advancements, the CSO data underscores the need for further progress to meet the government's goal of 300,000 new homes by 2030. The Planning and Development Act 2024 (the ‘Act’), once commenced, will introduce several critical reforms to further improve the timely delivery of housing projects in Ireland.

Some of the most welcome changes concern the judicial review procedure. Currently, the life of a planning permission continues to run down during a judicial review challenge, often leaving developers with insufficient time left to build out, even if the challenge is unsuccessful. The 2024 Act now addresses this by allowing developers to pause the duration of a planning permission while judicial review proceedings are ongoing. Where time is running out, the 2024 Act will also modify the procedure for extending the duration of planning permissions. Some of the changes in this respect are more welcome than others.

Beauchamps Projects, Infrastructure & Energy group

Back Row (l-r): Stuart Conaty, Partner, Planning & Environment; Fidelma McManus, Partner, Housing; John Gaffney, Partner, Competition & ESG; Centre Row (l-r): Aine Smith, Partner, Procurement; Richard Stowe, Partner, Construction; Ainsley Heffernan, Partner, Energy & Natural Resources; Jeanie Kelly, Senior Associate, Planning & Environment; Front Row (l-r): Fiona Egan, Partner, Construction and Anne Marie Igoe, Partner, Commercial Real Estate.

However, many of the existing permissions currently delayed or under challenge will not be able to avail of these new provisions as the transitional provisions require that applications to extend the duration of permissions, granted under the 2000 Act, continue to be made under the current provisions for the three-year period following the commencement of the 2024 Act.

These developers will, therefore, need to satisfy the current criteria, including the requirement to have carried out ‘substantial works’, in order to obtain an extension. For developers and stakeholders involved in large-scale housing projects, navigating the ever-evolving legislative landscape will continue to be complex for the foreseeable future.

Our team at Beauchamps is here to provide expert guidance and support to help overcome these remaining challenges of delivering much-needed housing in Ireland. So, please get in touch to see how we can provide assistance.

TUATH EMPOWERS RESIDENTS THROUGH ACTIVE PARTICIPATION

Residents and their experiences are a central focus at Tuath Housing. A new initiative by the Approved Housing Body ensures that residents’ voices are heard and their feedback has a meaningful impact on the services they use.

At Tuath Housing, home means having a safe, secure and comfortable place to live. For the organisation’s 38,000 residents, home also means being able to have a say and knowing that you will be heard. With this in mind, Tuath established its Property Services and Repairs Resident Feedback Panel, set up in 2024 by Tuath’s Property Services and Tenant Engagement teams.

“We invited residents to express an interest in joining the panel and had a significant response, and brought forward 15 residents to join the panel, representing a wide demographic,” noted Margaret Hanrahan, Tuath’s Tenant Engagement Manager.

“The panel members are playing a very important role, not only in communicating on behalf their communities but also in

helping us at Tuath to understand how to best serve the people who live in a Tuathmanaged home.”

OPEN COMMUNICATION

Quarterly panel meetings are facilitated by ‘Supporting Communities’ – an independent charitable organisation that champions tenant and community participation in Ireland, to ensure accountability and build trust between residents and Tuath staff.

Through the meetings, staff have provided residents with training on the role and function of Tuath’s Property Services team. This process has been beneficial for both residents and staff, ensuring technical language can be understood and that communication from Tuath's technical teams is user-friendly and accessible.

Dialogue between Tuath residents and staff members.

Panel members meet with Tuath Housing staff and Board members.

The meetings also act as a forum for open and productive communication. “The panel provides residents with a meaningful platform to voice their concerns, ideas and feedback, ensuring that their opinions are integral in shaping the services they receive,” according to Eoin Woods, Tuath’s Responsive Repairs Manager.

“By involving residents in decisionmaking, Tuath enhances transparency and trust, creating an environment where all stakeholders work together towards common goals. Furthermore, the panel is driving improvements in service delivery by highlighting areas that need attention, and celebrating successes, ultimately leading to a higher quality of living for residents,” he added.

CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

This project comes at a key moment for Tuath and its residents. The organisation now manages some 15,000 homes across every county in Ireland; having delivered almost 2,500 homes in 2024 alone.

This growth has prompted Tuath to continue to develop and improve its customer service experience for residents and to ensure best practice in housing management.

During its first year, the Property Services and Repairs Resident Feedback Panel has laid the groundwork for building trust with residents and ensuring that their input is integral in policy design and service delivery.

Key outcomes to date include:

• Improved flexibility in contractor call-out times to reduce disruption and access issues and to better suit residents’ schedules

• A new Damp, Mould & Condensation (DMC) policy and DMC video for residents

• A qualitative and quantitative review of Tuath’s quarterly responsive repairs satisfaction surveys, improving language accessibility and comprehensibility

Most importantly, the opportunity to contribute and to be heard has been welcomed by the panel members.

Reflecting on her experience of joining the panel, one Tuath resident noted: “Coming in as a tenant I didn’t know what to expect, but it was all made very clear by the Tenant Engagement team. I was delighted to get the opportunity to see how everything works for Tuath and I’m happy to be involved.”

To learn more about Tenant Engagement at Tuath, visit: https://tuathhousing.ie/tuathcommunity/get-involved

This not-for-profit Approved Housing Body (AHB) provides long-term, safe, quality housing. Tuath currently manages over 15,000 secure and affordable homes nationwide, catering to the needs of over 38,000 residents.

In 2024, Tuath achieved a significant milestone with the delivery of 2,489 social and Cost Rental homes, marking its largest delivery to date.

As one of Ireland’s largest AHBs, Tuath collaborates with public and private sector partners to address Ireland’s housing shortage while developing sustainable communities nationwide, with a strong commitment to social responsibility and community development.

Tuath residents provide feedback to staff members.

Panel members and Tuath staff at the inaugural meeting.

TRANSFORMING IRISH CONSTRUCTION

Embracing Modular Building Methods

Modular construction significantly reduces the overall build time compared to traditional methods.

The construction industry in Ireland is poised for a transformative shift as it increasingly embraces modular building methods, which can offer several advantages over traditional construction, including faster build times, cost efficiency, and enhanced sustainability, writes Colm McGrath, Executive Director and Head of Surety Ireland.

As Ireland’s construction industry faces a rising demand for housing and infrastructure, modular construction presents a viable solution to meet these needs while also addressing environmental concerns.

Modular construction significantly reduces the overall build time compared to traditional methods. This efficiency is achieved by manufacturing building components off-site in a controlled factory environment while site preparations occur simultaneously. As a result, construction times can be reduced by 30-50%.

This parallel processing means that multiple phases of the construction process can occur concurrently, accelerating project timelines and reducing delays due to weather or other on-site conditions.

ECONOMIES OF SCALE

Modular construction allows for bulk purchasing of materials and standardisation of processes, leading to significant cost savings. The controlled factory setting enables precise material management, reducing waste and lowering costs.

Additionally, the reduced construction time translates to lower labour costs and shorter financing periods, which further enhances cost efficiency. The controlled

environment of modular construction ensures more predictable project costs.

Factory production mitigates the risks of weather delays and other site-related issues that can lead to cost overruns in traditional construction. This predictability is attractive to developers and investors who seek reliable budgeting and financial planning.

Modular construction is inherently more sustainable than traditional methods due to its precision and efficiency. The factory-based approach generates less waste as materials are cut to exact specifications, reducing the amount of scrap and debris. Moreover, any excess materials can be recycled or repurposed more easily within a factory setting.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Buildings constructed using modular methods often have superior energy performance. The controlled factory environment allows for better quality control and integration of highperformance materials and systems.

As a result, modular buildings typically have better insulation and airtightness, leading to lower energy consumption and reduced operational costs. With Ireland now facing a significant housing shortage, modular construction is being utilised to

address this issue.

The government has recognised the potential of modular homes to provide quick and affordable housing solutions. Modular methods are being applied in social housing projects and student accommodations, where rapid delivery is crucial to meet urgent needs.

Modular construction is also making inroads into public infrastructure projects such as schools, hospitals, and office buildings. These projects benefit from the speed and efficiency of modular methods, allowing for quicker delivery of essential services. The flexibility of modular construction also allows for easy expansion or reconfiguration to meet changing demands.

CHALLENGES AND FUTURE OUTLOOK

One of the main challenges in adopting modular construction in Ireland is the regulatory framework. Current building codes and standards are primarily designed for traditional construction methods.

Updating these regulations to accommodate modular construction is necessary to ensure compliance and safety while leveraging the benefits of this innovative approach. Despite its advantages, there is still some scepticism about the quality and durability of modular buildings.

Educating stakeholders, including developers, architects, and the general public, about the long-term benefits and reliability of modular construction is essential for broader acceptance.

as office buildings.

Demonstrating successful projects and providing evidence of performance can help build confidence in modular methods.

SKILLED WORKFORCE

The shift to modular construction requires a workforce skilled in new building techniques and technologies. Investing in training and education is crucial to developing the necessary expertise within the industry. This includes upskilling existing workers and attracting new talent

Overcoming regulatory, perceptual, and workforce challenges will be key to fully realising the potential of modular construction and driving the industry’s future growth.

to meet the growing demand for modular construction skills.

In conclusion embracing modular building methods offer a transformative opportunity for the Irish construction industry. With its ability to deliver projects faster, more cost-effectively, and sustainably, modular construction is well-suited to meet the pressing needs for housing and infrastructure.

Overcoming regulatory, perceptual, and workforce challenges will be key to fully realising the potential of modular construction and driving the industry’s future growth.

Colm McGrath, Executive Director and Head of Surety Ireland, established Surety Bonds in 2012 with Jane Brady, to provide several types of bonds and guarantees, mainly for the construction industry. This owner-managed business, with its head office in Carrick on Shannon Co. Leitrim, became part of global insurance group Howden in 2024.

Modular construction is also making inroads into public infrastructure projects such

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CORK CITY’S SPRINGVILLE HOUSE

The Right-Sizing Scheme

Located in an area of Cork City where private homes have sold for €1 million, Springville House is a unique housing project that had once served as the former headquarters of Pettit Consulting Engineers before changing hands in 2006, and it has held the full potential to be reused.

Located along a vital link from residential areas to the city centre, the project was finally conceptualised as a ‘rightsizing’ complex. Two separate attempts to secure planning for homes on the site were unsuccessful before the property was acquired by MMD Construction.

The construction company then worked with the city council through its innovative Competitive Dialogue Procurement Process, and Tuath Housing, on a social housing proposal for the site. In 2019, city councillors approved an amended Part 8 plan to adapt and extend the building and change its use to facilitate residential development.

Made up of 35 homes, it is comprised of 4 bungalows and 31 apartments. This project was designed specifically for people aged 60 and over who want to avail of the city council’s voluntary ‘right-sizing’ initiative, which encourages people in the age bracket to move to more suitably sized homes in a welcoming community, thereby freeing up their former existing properties for younger families. Demolition and reconstruction began in late 2021. Springville House was completed in January 2023 and fully occupied by April of that same year.

TENANTS’ PEACE AND SECURITY

Substantial open spaces are intentional in the kitchen and living space for easy mobility around the home. A wet room can be found in each unit as a key accessible feature of the new ‘rightsizing’ criteria.

A private and safe outdoor garden or balcony was another crucial aspect of these units, as ease of access to fresh air and sunlight was also of priority. An electric gate around the complex provides peace of mind and security for tenants.

Rightsizing – previously known as ‘downsizing’ – generally means moving home later in life into housing that is more suitable and meets needs of the tenants.

Tuath Housing owns and manages the housing development and has very successfully created a new community in this innovative scheme, which blends seamlessly with its host community.

It was mandatory to think critically about how the interior and exterior design will benefit tenants over a long term, whilst also fitting within the context of its surrounding neighbourhood. The carefully chosen details of this development have allowed tenants of all abilities to live in a peaceful and supportive community.

This scheme demonstrates Cork City Council’s commitment within its housing delivery programme to positively develop vacant and derelict sites in an innovative way, to create much needed housing for those in need.

A balcony or a private and safe outdoor garden was a crucial aspect of these units, providing ease of access to fresh air and sunlight.

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IPA LAUNCHES STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME FOR PUBLIC SERVICE

The Institute of Public Administration’s 2025 Strategic Leadership Programme has been developed to address critical leadership needs across the public service, encourage innovation and take an integrated approach to cross-governmental issues such as infrastructure, housing, climate change, healthcare and immigration.

The SPS Strategic Leadership Programme for senior public service leaders, which has been designed to ensure that good leadership is at the core of public service, was recently launched by Jack Chambers TD, Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Services, Reform & Digitalisation.

The programme builds leadership capabilities to prepare for emerging areas impacting public services, including digital transformation, AI and sustainability. This year's programme will equip almost 200 leaders at principal officer level and above, with the necessary strategic leadership knowledge, skills and expertise needed to navigate the complex and ever-changing operating environment.

Led by Dr Cedric Chau, IPA Director of Senior Public Service (SPS), the programme also seeks to cultivate a strong leadership community within the public service to meet succession planning needs and foster collaborative relationships within and between organisations.

INVESTING IN LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

The SPS Programme, designed to contribute to the Better Public Services 2030 Transformation Strategy, has been aligned with the government’s vision to strengthen leadership capacity at senior levels. The aim is to ensure a resilient public service in an increasingly complex environment.

Jack Chambers TD, Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Services, Reform & Digitalisation recently launched the IPA’s 2025 Strategic Leadership Programme.

The IPA has engaged two delivery partners this year – Trinity College Dublin and the Roffey Institute. Speaking at the launch of the IPA’s training programmes for 2025, Helen Brophy, IPA Director General, said: “Investing in leadership development is central to providing better public services to our citizens. The role of the IPA is critical to meeting the challenges faced by the public service.”

She added that with its diverse education, learning and development programmes, the “IPA works in partnership with the public service to ensure that over 425,000 staff and employees have access to supports that build an innovative, agile and resilient workforce for the future when, where and how they need it”.

For more information on IPA’s training programmes and courses visit www.ipa.ie

IPA Chair George Burke, Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Services, Reform & Digitalisation, Jack Chambers TD and IPA Director General Helen Brophy, pictured following the programme’s launch.

How to Decarbonise Buildings for Meaningful

It’s time to act. Buildings of the future start with decarbonisation - not only for emissions reduction but also for increased property value, reduced energy costs, a better occupant experience, and more. Half of the buildings that will exist in 2050 have already built 1 That means that focusing on retrofitting these existing structure opportunity to build value now. In fact, 90% of existing buildings will become a financial risk if they fail to decarbonise.2 Follow these priorities to accelerate your sustainability journey and help increase your business value.

Strategise

Create decarbonisation road map

Digitise

Track embodied carbon

Measure and monitor energy and carbon

Decarbonise

Reduce energy and carbon through automation

Purchase off-site renewables

Electrify transportation

Upgrade building systems and electrical infrastructure

Digital

Digitisation drives efficiency. With a digital-first approach, you can progress faster with solutions that are easier to implement.

+ Electric

Electrification reduces dependency on fossil fuels and favors a source that can be decarbonised over time.

= Sustainable

Technologies are available today to decarbonise buildings. We are your partner on this journey.

out how you can make

Up to 42% carbon emission reduction from digital building management and power monitoring solutions, with a 1 – 3 year ROI3

Up to 28% carbon emissions reduction from electrification of heating, on-site renewables, and microgrid solutions3

Up to 70% carbon emissions reduction for All Digital, All Electric buildings3 7o%

1 UN Environment Programme (March 7, 2024) “Not yet built for purpose: Global building sector emissions still high and rising” [Press release] http://spr.ly/60025bYYE Accessed June 7, 2024.

2 International Renewable Energy Agency analysis, 2017.

3 Research conducted by Schneider Electric Decarbonization Office, based on 2023 modeled energy performance in accordance with ASHRAE 90.1-2004, large office buildings across U.S. Climate Zone 2. © 2024 Schneider Electric. All Rights Reserved. Life Is On | Schneider Electric is a trademark and the property of Schneider Electric SE, its subsidiaries, and affiliated companies. 998-23433312

FASTEST PATH TO DECARBONISING BUILDINGS

A Digital Technology-First Approach

Today, the built environment faces a monumental challenge. Currently, 1% of buildings achieve net zero status; by 2050 they must all reach net zero. Schneider Electric is acutely aware of the challenges faced by facilities managers in meeting global climate targets, especially in transforming existing buildings to reduce carbon emissions effectively and efficiently, writes Kas Mohammed, Vice President of Digital Energy, UK & Ireland.

Fortunately, we have an opportunity to redefine our approach to sustainability through the power of digital solutions for renovation. When it comes to reducing fossil fuel demand in office buildings, two primary pathways emerge: enhancing energy efficiency, and electrification using renewable energy sources.

We recently collaborated with WSP on a whitepaper titled “Decarbonise the office: Unleash the power of digital solutions for building renovations”, which delves into the pathway of energy efficiency.

Utilising the 2004 NREL Large Office archetype as a basis, we identified a series of Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs) that include envelope enhancements, digital optimisations, and emerging digital technologies to significantly lower carbon emissions in office buildings.

Our methodology combined public data sets, Schneider Electric proprietary research, and a parametric modelling approach. This enabled us to understand the trade-offs, benefits, and interactions between a range of office decarbonisation strategies.

Our research reveals that digital improvements, particularly those involving modern BMS systems, offer the most significant carbon savings relative to their embodied carbon investment. Digital

solutions have proven to be more effective than physical upgrades when considering the total lifecycle carbon emissions.

The key metric is the Return on Carbon (ROC) value – the number of years it takes to save an equivalent value of operational carbon as was “invested” in the embodied carbon. For digital solutions, this occurs within the first year of implementation. For envelope upgrades, it can take significantly longer; in the modelled data, it took nearly seven years to equal the carbon invested.

As facilities managers prioritise low-embodied carbon measures, digital solutions provide a practical path forward. Immediate upgrades to existing BMS systems, followed by incremental building envelope improvements, allow for effective decarbonisation strategies tailored to various building types and climate zones.

Deploying additional measures such as power factor correction, AI-enhanced controls, and zone controls can reduce operational carbon in existing buildings by up to 42% with a payback period of less than three years.

In the long run, more comprehensive renovations will be necessary to reach net zero, requiring solutions such as the integration of onsite renewables, electrification of heating, envelope upgrades,

and flexible energy generation and storage with microgrid. These changes will be even more disruptive and take longer to implement, often with a significantly longer ROC.

In conclusion, the path to sustainable office buildings lies in immediate prioritisation of digital retrofit solutions. Digital solutions are the optimal choice for facilities managers seeking to implement efficient, low-carbon strategies that meet today’s environmental challenges with the lowest impact on occupiers and the shortest ROC.

As we move toward a sustainable future, let us leverage the power of digital transformation to create lasting, positive impacts on our planet.

Read the whitepaper online at www.se.com/uk/en/download/ document/WP_Decorbanize-the-office/

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kas Mohammed has been with Schneider Electric for over a decade now and took up the role of Vice President of Digital Energy, UK & Ireland in March 2020. Prior to joining Schneider, he attended the University of Derby, graduating with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Psychology. Kas is passionate and committed to transforming and decarbonising buildings, whether new or old, with smart, sustainable solutions across energy generation, power, IoT and building services. He believes that smart buildings are not only more comfortable and sustainable – they also help to ensure the most rigorous safety and health standards are maintained and improve business performance through unlocking productivity and improving the employee value proposition.

Remcoll Modular International

The

Future

of Housing

An urgent need

At Remcoll we believe that everyone deserves a home, to be part of a community, and to have somewhere to thrive We measure our corporate success by the number of people for whom we provide shelter Remcoll’s Offsite construction division, Remcoll Modular International, builds those homes. Affordable, energy efficient, and sustainable homes, specifically aimed at the social housing sector, to meet the increasing need for accommodation According to the Irish Housing Commission the country has a shortage of between 212,500 and 256,000 homes, and the Central Bank estimates that we need to build at least 52,000 homes annually, simply to keep up with demand. Last year there were fewer than 33,000 new dwellings completed. Traditional construction is failing, particularly at the affordable end of the market, so purchase and rental prices are sky high, and the housing shortage continues to grow.

An innovative approach

Remcoll Modular International have taken an innovative approach towards resolving this situation At the RMI factory in Nenagh, County Tipperary, we have designed , and build, a range of modular homes, which offer extraordinary value, class leading levels of energy efficiency, and which can be installed on site in less than half the time of traditi onal construction

The factory currently employs 150 staff, with plans to increase this over the next year to around 500. The structured environment of the factory and detailed designs of the modules, mean that we can engage people without pre-existing building or construction skills and through in -house training and our commitment to apprenticeships, we can equip them with the skills they need. This means were not depleting the traditional sector of already scarce labour.

Building Excellence and Sustainability

The products are meticulously designed and specified to maximise the effective life of the building, minimising waste during the production process and maximise the opportunities for end-of-life recycling. We aim to be the lowest carbon footprint form of construction available. More than this, our products are designed to be energy efficient and where appropriate modules are fitted with solar panels and energy storage batteries, providing net zero carbon, in operation, minimising heating and lighting cost, for occupants, some of whom maybe amongst our most economically vulnerable.

Our approach to sustainability goes further. We carefully select our suppliers and will only work those who are demonstrably committed to the highest standards of environmental control, both in their production processes and in the management of their waste. At our own facility we continually seek ways to reduce our waste, and reuse what we can. We have an absolute commitment that waste that we do produce, which we cannot reuse ourselves, will not go to landfill and instead will be actively recycled in an efficient and environmentally sympathetic manner.

A partnership model

To achieve these goals, we work in partnership with our customers, suppliers, investors and our workforce, to balance the needs of each, while delivering an exemplary product, in a sustainable way, closing the supply gap in the housing sector. It is particularly important for us to collaborate with our regional partners to ensure we’re working on the projects that are most important to them and delivering products that meet those needs, in timescales that address problems swiftly.

Shaping the future

We believe that our innovative approach represents the future of housing, and we aim to make RMI a rewarding and enjoyable place to work. We’re more than a business; we’re on a mission to make a difference . We believe in the transformative potential of the partnership model, the value of innovation and the contribution of a well-motivated and welltrained workforce. Reach out to Remcoll Modular International and become part of crafting a world where housing isn’t merely a necessity but a source of pride and security for everyone.

NEXT GENERATION

The Grant Aerona R290

- Innovative Design

- Exceptional Performance

- Ultra-Low Noise Levels

- Outputs from 4kW – 16kW

GRANT LAUNCHES NEXT GENERATION

Aerona R290 Heat Pump

Globally renowned heating technology manufacturer, Grant has launched its next generation air source heat pump – the Grant Aerona R290. Designed in Ireland, specifically for the Irish and UK climate, the new heat pump is already proving itself to be in another league in terms of innovation and efficiency and a significant addition to the Grant product portfolio.

Throughout the research and development phase, Grant heavily invested in design and testing of the new heat pump range to ensure the technology is best suited for year-round climate conditions in Ireland and the UK.

Innovative and aesthetically pleasing, the Aerona R290 mono bloc heat pump is available to order now. The range features five models, the 4kW, 6.5kW and 9kW units, as well as the larger 12kW and 16kW units.

It provides an even more environmentally friendly, low carbon heating solution for the next generation as it uses the energy efficient and natural R290 refrigerant, which has an incredibly low global warming potential of 3, signaling an important advancement in sustainable home heating.

The launch of this heat pump marks a significant development in sustainable home heating and within the company’s product portfolio, according to founder Stephen Grant. “The Aerona R290 comes as Grant celebrates 15 years in the heat pump market and is testament to our commitment to design highly efficient, reliable heating technologies which can make a real sustainable difference.”

Cleverly designed, taking both aesthetics and acoustics into consideration, the Grant Aerona R290 combines modern styling and sleek colorway with high performance. Featuring a durable, powder coated black casing, the heat pump’s appearance has been developed following extensive analysis of feedback from customers.

The ultra-low noise levels of the units, which have achieved Quiet Mark (QM) accreditation, are the result of innovative soundreducing features within the units including acoustic cotton sound insulation in the casing and anti-vibration feet.

Delivering exceptional performance levels , all five models within the range have been tested to perform in Irish and UK climates. Each model has an energy rating of A+ + + (at 35°C flow temperature) and their outputs have been rated at -5°C air temperature and 55°C water flow temperature. The Aerona R290 also features a built-in immersion and high capacity 9m head circulation pump.

Providing peace of mind, models within this range can be monitored and managed remotely, giving both installers and their customers full control of their heat pump system and providing offsite diagnostic support when required. Designed for use with the Aerona Smart Controller, the Aerona R290 can be operated and managed with ease through straightforward set-up and commissioning, innovative control and support thereafter.

Barry Gorman, Grant’s National Renewable Sales Manager, said “The new products are welcome additions to our integrated heating package solutions offering. Together they will help to provide further choices and flexibility for design and installation of integrated heating systems, whilst providing the same quality and reliability our customers have come to expect from a Grant heating system.”

Grant’s in-house renewable technical specialists will also continue to provide their free of charge heating system and design specification support to installers, merchants, and their customers to ensure correct sizing of the new Aerona R290 heat pump as part of an integrated heating system.

All Aerona R290 heat pumps will be commissioned onsite by Grant at no extra charge. Email heatpump@grant.ie with house plans and choice of heat emitters (underfloor heating and/ or radiators).

Think Heating. Think Grant.

For more information on Grant’s Integrated Heating Packages for new builds and range of innovative heating solutions visit www.grant.ie. Follow Grant on Facebook @GrantIRL, X and Instagram @Grant_ IRL and LinkedIn @GrantEngineeringULC. You can also follow Grant on YouTube @GrantEngineeringIE.

Grant Aerona R290 4kW air source heat pump

NEW HEATING TECHNOLOGY WILL ENABLE LOCAL AUTHORITIES

To Achieve Climate Action Plan Goals

District heating is changing how we plan, provide and use energy in Ireland. Along with his team, Isidore McCormack, Head of District Heating Network Development at Yuno Energy, is supporting local authorities to achieve their sustainability goals.

Under the Energy Efficiency Directive 2023, which comes into effect in Ireland this November, local authorities will be required to develop heating and cooling plans where the population is greater than 45,000 people. This is a monumental policy shift in how we plan and use thermal energy more efficiently.

A useful comparison for this level of change in how local authorities plan and engage with homes and businesses is the development of waste management plans in the 2000s. This large-scale policy change saw Ireland move away from age old practices of dumping waste in unlined holes in the ground to the regionally and nationally coordinated multi-bin and treatment system we are now so familiar with.

As with moving to a more sustainable waste management culture over 20 years ago, where regional waste generation had to be understood, the introduction of thermal planning will see local authorities and other bodies survey and plan heat and cooling use to work towards dedicated renewable heat targets. These targets will also be subject to national fines for noncompliance.

Yuno Group, an Irish owned and operated utilities provider, includes PrepayPower, Yuno Energy, Firmus Energy, and Kaizen Energy. Established in 2012, the group now supplies 9% of Ireland’s electricity and natural gas. The introduction of a dedicated district heating development function is the latest in the group’s entrepreneurial efforts to redefine energy solutions for their 400,000 customers.

LARGE SCALE POLICY CHANGES

Heating and cooling account for around 40% of total energy demand across Europe and require attention – particularly because, like the waste sector, decarbonisation solutions can vary significantly by home, business, city or county.

This can be due to urban/rural location, commercial/residential/public ownership, electrical grid capacity in the area, equipment space availability, insulation levels or whether a protected building or

not. This individualism in the sector creates a challenege rather than a problem when trying to select the best way to transition from fossil fuels to a renewable, sustainable heat supply.

The good news is that there are plenty of solutions already at hand. These can include retrofitting existing housing and building stocks, ensuring compliance with enhanced building regulations, the use of heat pumps, biomass, renewable biomethane gas, and geothermal energy.

However, it can be complicated to navigate the path to bring each of these elements together in a cohesive, efficient, and impactful way.

RURAL CHALLENGES

For the renewable heat champions in our community, rural Ireland can present specific challenges. Options include thermal solar, biomass boiler, heat pump connected to the electrical grid (assuming sufficient grid capacity when we all have heat pumps and electric vehicles), or a roof mounted solar panel with battery (to ensure heat/ electrical supply when the sun isn’t shining) or maybe a geothermal supply.

Although local authorities and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) are making great strides in supporting people living in one-off rural housing to select more sustainable heating options, it will require even greater smart incentives, educational campaigns, new skills and subsidies to see real movement away from our reliance on our old friend, the oil-fired boiler.

When it comes to more densely populated areas though, and where previously it was viable to install natural gas mains, local authorities and urban planners now have another option for renewable heat supply. District energy systems deliver heat or cooling from one or more generation locations to multiple consumers via pumped water in pre-insulated pipes.

One of the major benefits of district energy is its ability to be supply agnostic, using any viable forms of heat to supply the network, and so is not reliant on any one fuel source. So, the heating supplied to the customer can come from various sources, such as industrial heat pumps, waste heat from data centres or industry, water sources like rivers, lakes or waste water treatment plant outfalls or geothermal.

COST EFFICIENCY MEASURES

The more we grow these efficient district energy networks, the more sustainable the connection cost becomes. Although new to Ireland, these systems are long-established elsewhere and our Nordic neighbours have been pioneering district heating technology since the 1970s.

For over 50 years now, Denmark, amongst other countries, has pursued an evolution in district heating networks, consistently seeking out cleaner, greener technology to supply the country’s heat.

This has meant transitioning from coal to gas, then using combined heat and power with waste to energy plants, on to geothermal and waste heat capture, and finally, to large industrial heat pumps and electric boilers powered by renewable electricity combined with thermal storage today.

The approach taken by the Danes is particularly relevant when we consider Europe’s commitment to reducing our reliance on natural gas imported from Russia following the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

In Denmark, government and local authorities are now installing district heating to replace natural gas in less dense suburbs populated with detached houses. Despite roads all over Denmark being dug up to facilitate this, our Nordic neighbours appear to be more than happy to overlook the short-term. Due to Ireland's reliance on imported fossil fuels (78.5% in 2023), we need such energy security and cost certainty also.1

MEETING IRELAND’S DEMAND FOR CLEAN ENERGY

Right now, district heating is responsible for just 1% of Ireland’s energy supply network, putting us at the bottom of the league in comparison to our EU neighbours. Local authorities now have an exciting opportunity to secure Ireland’s energy future whilst at the same time, providing access to more sustainable energy to people living in our towns and cities.

The SEAI recently produced a report entitled District Heating and Cooling: Spatial Analysis of Infrastructure Costs and Potential in Ireland, in which the agency asserts that district heating networks have the potential to supply over 50% of building heat demand in Ireland.

This assumption is based on our population density and the appropriate availability of waste and ambient heat in Ireland. This is a unique selling point for district heating systems and one of the key reasons for successive EU and Irish legislations for district energy since the Energy Efficiency Directives were first set out in 2012.

In January 2025, the newly elected Government of Ireland confirmed their programme for the next five years. This programme commits to enacting the Heat Bill in 2025, providing structure and supports for local authority public private partnerships (PPPs), semi state bodies, and private developer-led district heating system development.

This three-pronged approach from government is set to dramatically accelerate Ireland’s progress towards delivering district heating networks and increase our renewable heat (RES-H) supply as quickly as possible.

SUPPORTING LOCAL AUTHORITIES

With over 14,000 customers already enjoying the benefits of communal district heating systems, Yuno Energy is now scaling up its ambitions to develop utility scale district heating. The Yuno Group has developed a dedicated in-house team with international know-how and direct experience designing, building, operating, maintaining and financing large-scale district heating systems.

The added value of Yuno Group’s service includes access to sector-leading digital tools that monitor energy usage and building performance, award-winning customer service teams, experienced billing and accounts teams, and full compliance with the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) legislation.

Yuno Energy is actively seeking new partnerships with local authorities to deliver district heating projects in towns and cities across Ireland. The energy company is passionate about enabling its clients to play an active role in creating a greener, cleaner, more sustainable future. And it believes that district heating has a crucial role to play in achieving this.

COUNTY COLOURS DASHBOARD

For Wind Energy Across Ireland

The breakdown of wind energy generation and associated benefits across the 26 counties are contained in an interactive new website launched by Wind Energy Ireland., which shows that Kerry was the top wind energy generator during 2023, followed by Cork, Tipperary, Galway, Mayo and Donegal.

The platform offers detailed insights into each county’s wind energy contributions, including carbon emissions savings facilitated by local wind farms and the economic impact of community benefit funds and commercial rates paid to county councils.

In 2023, wind energy supplied 35% of Ireland’s electricity. Wind Energy Ireland’s new dashboard now provides a county-by-county breakdown of this achievement, enabling users to explore region-specific data.

Leading the way in wind energy generation in 2023, Kerry produced 1,664 GWh of energy, followed by Cork (1,421 GWh), Tipperary (890 GWh), Galway (833 GWh) closely followed by Mayo (829 GWh) and finally Donegal (711 GWh). For context, one gigawatt-hour (GWh) equals the power consumed annually by approximately 230 Irish families.

These achievements reflect the collaborative efforts of local communities and stakeholders in driving Ireland’s renewable energy transition. Noel Cunniffe, CEO of Wind Energy Ireland, explained that the platform empowers communities, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to better understand and appreciate the substantial contributions each county is making toward our national renewable energy goals.

COMMUNITY COLLABORATION

“It also highlights the significant economic benefits associated with wind energy generation, such as county council rates and community benefit funds,” he added. As Ireland works toward achieving 80% renewable electricity by 2030, Cunniffe emphasised the need for continued investment and supportive policies to sustain momentum in the wind energy sector.

“We’ve made significant progress in our wind energy journey. Counties that have contributed so much to Ireland’s wind

For details visit https://windenergyireland.com/about-wind/wind-energy-by-county

energy output should be proud of their achievements. However, we still have a long way to go.

“The County Colours Dashboard shows notable variance in wind energy output across the 26 counties. While some counties generate significant amounts of energy, others are yet to develop wind projects. So, there’s tremendous opportunity for more counties to contribute to Ireland’s clean energy future and benefit from the associated economic opportunities.

“Not only does this mean cleaner, more secure, and cheaper energy for the people of Ireland, but history also shows that energy abundance drives prosperity at the local level. We’re committed to collaborating with communities, policymakers and industry partners to deliver more wind farms and ensure an affordable, resilient and sustainable energy future for everyone.”

and

policies to sustain

Wind Energy Ireland’s CEO Noel Cunniffe has emphasised the need for continued investment

supportive

momentum in the wind energy sector.

FUNDING OF €713M ROLLED OUT FOR REGIONAL AND LOCAL ROADS

Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien, who announced the funding with Ministers of State Seán Canney and Jerry Buttimer, said that his priority is the ongoing maintenance and renewal of the regional and local road network, alongside strategic investment in developing and improving the road infrastructure network.

“Rehabilitation and maintenance are fundamental to keeping the network in a good condition, and a significant increase in funding has been provided for in 2025, with most of the funding going towards restoration of the network. This is essential for maintaining social and economic connectivity, linking people and places across the country.”

In addition to maintaining the current road network, Minister O’Brien said that the infrastructure will be developed and upgraded by investing €70 million in vital strategic projects, which are continuing to be progressed.

“These include those identified for development under the National Development Plan such as the Shannon Crossing and Killaloe Bypass project in Killaloe and Ballina, and the Coonagh to Knockalisheen Distributor Road in Limerick City,” he added.

As part of the €70 million investment, over €20 million is being allocated under the Specific Grant category for smaller-scale road improvements. These grants will fund a variety of projects, including bridge repairs, junction reconfigurations and initiatives to reduce traffic congestion in towns.

They will also aim to enhance access to educational institutions, businesses and public transport. Funded projects in 2025 include rehabilitation of Ballycorkey Bridge in Westmeath and the R595 Old Court, Skibbereen to Baltimore realignment in Cork.

INCREASE IN ROAD SAFETY MEASURES

Minister of State with responsibility for International and Road Transport, Logistics, Rail and Ports, Seán Canney, said the investment will enhance road safety, by allocating funds for over 330 safety projects this year, an increase of 20% from last year.

“These safety schemes aim to implement remedial measures to improve the overall safety of our road network, benefiting all road users. Increasing funding in safety projects is vital in reducing road fatalities and serious injuries and helps to create a safer transport environment for all.

"In response to the constant environmental challenges, we are designating €16.5 million for 315 projects focused on climate change adaptation to ensure the long-term sustainability and resilience of our roads.

"Projects to be completed in 2025 under the Climate Adaptation grant vary from flood alleviation works at Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan to seawall protection works at Aillroe/Erribul, Co. Clare."

Minister of State with responsibility for Rural Transport, Jerry Buttimer, said that the €713 million funding will “boost connectivity, support businesses, and make daily commutes to school, work, and other activities easier and safer for families”.

The 2025 grants programme demonstrates a significant increase in investment across various grant categories, with boosted funding for Restoration Improvement, bridge rehabilitation, safety projects and the Community Involvement Scheme. The Department of Transport will also continue to offer grant assistance to local authorities for the implementation of reduced speed limits on rural local roads.

The €713m investment encompasses key grants including:

• €330m for road pavement strengthening works.

• €75m for preventative surface dressing work.

• €84m for maintenance and strengthening works for which local authorities have discretion in the selection of roads.

• €70m for Specific and Strategic Regional and Local Roads Projects.

• €18m for bridge rehabilitation works.

• €13m for safety improvement works.

• €18m for drainage works.

• €15m for Community Involvement Schemes.

• €16.5m for climate change adaptation/resilience works.

• €12m for Former National Road.

• Miscellaneous grants also provided for several pilot initiatives, salt purchase training, asset management and conducting pavement surveys.

The investment will allocate funds for over 330 road safety projects this year, an increase of 20% on last year.

Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien (centre) pictured with Ministers of State Jerry Buttimer (left) and Seán Canney (right) following their funding announcement.

‘PLANNING IN NUMBERS’

A Five-Year Strategic Review

The Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR) has published ‘Planning in Numbers’ to provide a strategic review of key planning trends and outputs in Ireland over the last five years, and a comparison of patterns where figures are available for the 2019-2023 period.

The OPR’s five-year review uses data from statistics published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), the National Oversight and Audit Commission (NOAC), the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) and An Bord Pleanála (ABP).

Analysis focuses on key indicators related directly to functions such as forward planning; development management; planning appeals; planning enforcement, land activation, vacancy, legal challenges, and costs of operating local authority planning functions that are presented in the previous series. In addition, some indicators are introduced related to resources and climate action.

This analysis of 2023 data indicates that Ireland’s planning system continues to perform statutory duties in the context of increased pressure. Data presented here reflects only part of the work of

In October 2024 over 3,935 climate action plans were adopted across local authorities, 262 of which were planning related.

local authorities, who also undertake a significant volume of additional planningrelated work such as development promotion, urban renewal and rural development.

“The figures for 2023 show that local authorities continued to concentrate their forward planning resources on preparing or completing their development plan reviews. The increase in the publications of issue papers for local area plans (LAPs) indicates that the local authorities have begun to focus on preparing detailed plans,” the OPR notes in its review.

RESOURCE CHALLENGES

According to the OPR, “Planning, like other sectors, is experiencing resource challenges as well as looking to technological advances and related challenges and opportunities. The Ministerial Action Plan on Planning Resources is welcomed and will assist the sector. It is interesting to look across the five-year period.

“This provides clarity on consistent and varying trends and figures. In the context of balanced regional growth, the five-year pattern of granted permissions for houses and apartments between regional assembly areas may merit investigation. In recent years new online planning application systems have been introduced in several local authorities. There may be value in investigating the level of invalid applications.”

The data shows the increasing cost of providing planning functions. While income from planning fees is increasing, this is at much lower rate. Planning fee income represents 17% of the overall cost of providing planning functions in 2022.

The review points out that all trends presented through different datasets need careful monitoring, while further consideration as the planning sector continues to evolve.

“Climate action is of growing importance, and planning-related actions are being adopted across the local authorities. Collating and utilising planning statistics related to climate action will be beneficial in supporting this vital work into the future.”

Moving towards the sixth year of collating annual figures, the OPR aims to provide these online to make an interactive resource available to support Ireland’s planning system.

• The volume of public consultation processes related to statutory planmaking grew from 2021-2023, with 64 public consultation processes in 2023: 51 related to local area plans, 13 related to city/county development plans.

• During 2023 valid planning applications decreased by 1,793 from 2022, to 30,578. The national rate for invalid applications has increased since 2021, with the average in 2023 at its highest in the last five years.

• The national planning application grant rate remained consistently high, between 87.4% and 89.2% over the five-year period.

• Planning applications approved in 2023 totalled 24,448.

• In 2023, 41,225 residential units were granted planning permission compared 34,177 for the previous year.

• One-off houses granted permission decreased from 6,924 in 2022 to 5,032 in 2023.

• Residential units completed continued to increase in 2023, with the rate of apartments higher than housing schemes and single houses.

• A requirement for over 500 technical and non-technical posts in local authority planning departments was identified in 2022 by the Local Government Management Agency, in conjunction with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The implementation of the Ministerial Action Plan on Planning Resources published in September 2024 will assist the sector.

• Data for 2023 show the increasing cost of providing statutory planning functions by local authorities with a low level of income through planning fees.

• Planning enforcement cases investigated by local authorities decreased to 6,783 from 6,959 during 2023.

• There was a small drop in derelict residential properties from 22,279 to 21,947 for 2023.

• 2023 was the first year during the five-year period when judicial review cases were taken against An Bord Pleanála decreased.

• A preliminary analysis of Climate Action Plan actions undertaken by the Climate Action Regional Offices (CAROs) in October 2024 shows that over 3,935 actions were adopted across local authorities, 262 of which were planning related.

Residential units completed continued to increase in 2023, with the rate of apartments higher than housing schemes and single houses.

HIGHLIGHTS OF OPR FIVE-YEAR REVIEW:

COMMUNITY ENTERPRISE SECTOR WORTH €1.8BN EACH YEAR – CEAI RESEARCH REVEALS

Community Enterprise Association Ireland (CEAI) has revealed that enterprise centres and hubs in local communities are worth €1.8 billion each year to the Irish economy, in new independent research, which has highlighted their importance in the development of microbusinesses, SMEs and potential start-ups nationwide.

The economic impact report by CEAI (the representative voice for the community enterprise and wider enterprise hub network) has analysed the economic contribution of Ireland’s community enterprise centres and hubs, their tenants and clients supported in rural and urban areas across the country.

According to CEAI Chief Executive Siobhán Finn, the report highlights the importance of community enterprise centres and enterprise hubs in growing micro-businesses, SMEs and High Potential Start-Ups (HPSUs) in every county in Ireland.

Speaking at the launch of the report – CEAI Economic Assessment for the Enterprise Centre & Hub Sector – she added that this contribution to regional economic development in rural and urban Ireland is hugely significant, as demonstrated by the Gross Value Added (GVA) of the sector valued at €1.8bn in 2023.

“The insights provided in this report highlight the sector’s significance and suggest the importance of continued investment and additional supports for the sector.”

SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT RETURNS

The growth of the community enterprise sector has been underpinned by significant investment from Enterprise Ireland and the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment over 30 years as well as recent funding through the Connected Hubs Network. With an estimated investment of more than €200 million in funding, the sector has delivered over nine-fold return on this investment.

Enterprise centres and hubs operate across all regions in Ireland, contributing to the building of thriving economies at local, regional and

national levels. This is the first report to capture the impact of the sector on Ireland’s economic performance.

While the CEAI Report acknowledges the role played by volunteers in the enterprise centre and innovation hub sector, the report excludes the significant in-kind monetary value of the voluntary input invested in managing and directing enterprise centres and hubs around the country.

Multiplier rates for different sectors vary from 2.5 or 3 for very high tech and knowledge intensive sectors, the conservative impact multiplier of 1.7 was selected in this assessment of economic impact of the community enterprise sector.

The CEAI Research Report was conducted early last year by The Discovery Partnership with Community Engagement Partners and PMG Consult.

CEAI’s Chairperson Gary O’Meara and CEO Siobhán Finn pictured at the launch of the CEAI economic impact report on Ireland’s community enterprise sector.

OVER €6 MILLION IN FUNDING FOR 10 RESEARCH TEAMS

The final 10 research teams to receive Grow Phase funding by reaching the finals of the National Challenge Fund – a €65 million competitive programme which aims to deliver solutions for major environmental and societal issues – have been announced by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD.

According to Minister James Lawless, the research teams are working on innovative, solution-focused projects that will have a real and positive impact across society, the economy, and the environment.

“They are exemplars of the positive impact research and innovation funding can deliver. I look forward to seeing these research teams progress their projects over the next year as they continue to support Ireland’s digital transformation and green transition,” he added.

The National Challenge Fund, a programme funded by the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility is co-ordinated and administered by Research Ireland. It has supported 96 teams to identify problems related to Ireland’s Green Transition and Digital Transformation and collaborate directly with those stakeholders most affected by them to create real and tangible solutions.

The teams are now the finalists in this competitive funding model and will have the opportunity for additional funding in the final phase of the programme. Prize funding of €2 million will be on offer to the most competitive teams under each challenge process.

Celine Fitzgerald, Interim CEO of Research Ireland, said the announcement marks “a key milestone for the National Challenge Fund as the final 10 research teams receive Grow Phase funding becoming finalists in this fast-passed funding programme”.

EU Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection, Michael McGrath, said that the research work undertaken by the teams will help “address some of the most pressing challenges for society and help ensure a just transition for all as Ireland and the EU continue our journey to a carbon neutral future”.

TWO CHALLENGE AREAS

The teams are split across two challenge areas:

a. The Sustainable Communities Challenge seeks solutions to ensure a sustainable future for Ireland’s urban and rural populations. The finalists in this challenge are researching

solutions for key challenges in the areas of transportation infrastructure maintenance, waste polyester recycling, sustainable construction methods, mitigating bridge failure risk, and empowering communities to adopt more sustainable modes of transport.

b. The Future Food Systems Challenge seeks solutions for sustainable, productive and resilient food systems. The teams in this challenge are researching solutions for key challenges in the areas of sustainable alternative protein sources, disease management in aquaculture, recycling critical raw materials for agrifood systems, mitigating crop losses due to fungal disease, and decision-support systems for food production in greenhouses.

Each team is being awarded up to €500,000 funding for the next 12 months. They will spend the next year advancing prototyping activities and demonstrating how the solutions they are developing can create tangible value by addressing the specific societal needs identified and refined in the previous phases of the funding programme.

About the National Challenge Fund: This €65m research fund was established under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), developed by the Government so that Ireland can access funding under the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility. Ireland is expected to receive €988 million in grants under the Facility.

The Recovery and Resilience Facility is the largest component of NextGenerationEU – the EU’s response to the global pandemic. The aim is to help repair the economic and social damage brought about by the pandemic and to prepare for a post-Covid Europe that is greener, more digital, more resilient and fit to face the future.

The initiative addresses key national challenges in the areas of Green Transition and Digital Transformation and consists of eight challenges (five Green and three Digital).

For further information visit www.sfi.ie/challenges/NationalChallenge-Fund/

EPA FUNDS €14.5M TO RESEARCH

Climate Challenges

Reflecting the need for cross-sectoral research, the EPA is working in partnership with Met Éireann and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to cofund several of the research projects.

These projects will address key knowledge gaps and support the development of vital research capacity in strategically important areas. The latest EPA Research Call garnered a strong response, with 50 per cent of successful lead researchers not having previously applied to the EPA for funding.

Laura Burke, EPA Director General said: “Our latest EPA State of the Environment Report highlights the scale of challenges facing Ireland and the need for determined action across climate, sustainable consumption, biodiversity and pollution goals. This new EPA funding will help to build the vital research talent and knowledge needed in Ireland to respond to these challenges and achieve a healthier environment.”

The latest EPA funding is significant in terms of further building the environmental research capacity in Ireland. It will support almost 200 research staff across 10 organisations, including funding for approximately 50 PhD and postgraduate students.

The EPA will provide hands-on support and training to the researchers to facilitate the uptake of the research outputs by policy makers and other users. Trinity College Dublin (TCD) received the highest number of successful research awards last year, and Prof Sinéad Ryan, TCD’S Dean of Research, described the funding as “a key enabler for research across a number of our disciplines” with a focus in conservation, sustainability and/or climate adaptation.

Reflecting the importance of collaboration in addressing climate and environmental challenges, the EPA is working in partnership with Met Éireann and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to co-fund several of the projects.

The EPA Research Programme is funded by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. The EPA Research Call 2025 opened for applications in April, and further details

are on the EPA website. Funding research in Ireland since 1994, the EPA is currently providing funds for more than 200 ongoing research projects.

Supporting environmental policies:

The annual EPA Research Call is a key element of the EPA 2030 Research Strategy which provides scientific support for environmental policy development, implementation and broader decision making across four thematic areas:

• Addressing climate change evidence needs,

• Facilitating a green and circular economy,

• Delivering a healthy environment,

• Protecting and restoring our natural environment.

Projects to receive EPA funding for 2025 includes:

• Attribution of weather events to climate change

• Exploring Irish people’s attitudes and values around climate change

• Investigating the risk of exposure to chemicals in foodstuffs

• Susceptibility and resistance of trees to diseases such as ash dieback

• Novel approaches to managing textile waste

• Mitigating the risks posed by electronic waste (WEEE)

The EPA Research Programme is designed to support the implementation of environmental policies in Ireland, such as the Climate Action Plan; National Climate Adaption Framework; Circular Economy Action Plans and Strategies; Biodiversity National Action Plan, National Radon Strategy; National Land Use Evidence Review; UN Sustainable Development Goals’ Implementation Plan; as well as a range of key policy areas including water, air, radon, and other areas of interest for the EPA.

For further details on the EPA Research Programme visit www.epa.ie/our-services/research/

Powering Up Communities

Powering Up Ireland

At EirGrid, operator of the electricity grid, we're leading the move to cleaner energy. By 2020, nearly 40% of Ireland's electricity came from renewable sources. Now we're working to bring more renewable energy onto the grid, so we can reach 80%, as set out by Government targets.

With support of communities across the country, we can realise Ireland's world class potential to deliver a renewable energy future, securing our electricity supply and helping the country to become more energy independent.

Local Authority Journal 2025

JOURNAL

STRATEGIC HOUSING ACTIVATION OFFICE

CONTENTS

CO-OPERATIVE HOUSING IRELAND

NATIONAL CENSUS ATLAS

DIGITAL TWIN TECHNOLOGY

44 LAND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY

THE HOUSING AGENCY

CONTENTS

52 TUATH HOUSING

59 IPA STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP

69 WIND ENERGY IRELAND

70 ROADS INVESTMENT

74 COMMUNITY ENTERPRISE

76 EPA RESEARCH PROJECTS

KERRY COUNTY COUNCIL TO ROLL OUT ROAD SAFETY CONFERENCE

93,000 HOUSING UNITS NEEDED DUE TO GROWING POPULATION –DAVY

REPORT

Bígí linn ag an bhFleadh

Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann

NEW CHAIR TO LEAD HEALTHY HOMES IRELAND ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY POLICIES

OVER €77M PAID TO REFURISH 1,449 HOMES UNDER VACANT

PROPERTY GRANT SCHEME

APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR HEALTHTECH INNOVATION PROGRAMME

#BUYDONEGAL 2024 CAMPAIGN REACHES RECORD GLOBAL AUDIENCE

Redefine Your Space with NorDan

Alu-Clad Windows

Alu-Clad Doors

Aluminium

Windows

Aluminium

Door

Entrance Doors

WATERFORD ON TRACK TO RECEIVE €17M

FOR

ACTIVE TRAVEL SCHEMES

SOUTH DUBLIN SUSTAINABLE PROJECT WINS ENERGY GLOBE AWARD

UPMC IN IRELAND

ENTRIES NOW OPEN FOR IRISH PLANNING AWARDS 2025

AWARD CATEGORIES

HARRIS MAXUS JOINS YAMAHA WORLDSBK FOR 2025 AND 2026

DUBLIN TO HOST INTERNATIONAL

SOCIAL HOUSING FESTIVAL 2025

FOCUS ON PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES

DURACOLOUR

COMMISSION RECOMMENDS THE BUILDING BLOCKS NEEDED TO INCREASE HOUSING DELIVERY

HOUSING DELIVERY DEFICIT

SAY HI TO HYBRID

LOCAL HOUSING ORGANISATIONS

SUSTAINABLE HOUSING DELIVERY

COST RENTAL SOCIAL HOUSING

OTHER FINANCE STREAMS

WHAT TO DO NEXT

INCREASED DELIVERY CAPACITY

Finding inspiration, working rationally

Further Education and Training Further Education and Training

LOWDOWN ON LAMA AWARD WINNERS FOR 2025

CELEBRATING COMMUNITY PROJECTS

2025 LAMA Award Winners

Opening Doors for New Home Building in Ireland

Social/A ordable Housing Product

SNAPSHOTS FROM THIS YEAR'S LAMA AWARDS

IRELAND’S GREENWAY PROJECTS ON TRACK TO RECEIVE €67M FUNDING

WALKING/CYCLING SCHEMES

PROGRESS TOWARDS VISION ZERO

Everything in life starts at home

CHI CALLS FOR MORE SUPPORT TO DELIVER

Social and Affordable Housing Nationwide

SUPPORTING HOUSING DELIVERY AMID CHALLENGES

LOCAL AUTHORITIES STEP UP CO2 PERFORMANCE LADDER

Using Green Procurement Strategy

CO2 PERFORMANCE LADDER

HOW THE LADDER WORKS

PROVEN SUCCESS IN AMSTERDAM

Support Available for Local Authorities

MAYNOOTH TEAM MAPS OUT FIRST NATIONAL CENSUS ATLAS

“GROUNDBREAKING TOOL”

Your Partner to Design, Develop and Manufacture your next Medical Device

DEMOCRATISING ACCESS TO KEY DATA