Delivering Homes, Building Communities

Thursday 5th March 2026 • Croke Park, Dublin

 
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25+ expert speakers

4 informative sessions

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About

Housing Ireland Conference

In November 2025, the Government introduced a new housing plan Delivering Homes, Building Communities, which aims to speed up the delivery of new homes and tackle homelessness. The plan targets the construction of 300,000 homes, including 72,000 social homes and 90,000 affordable housing supports. Building on the progress of Housing for All, which has already delivered 137,000 homes since 2021, and informed by the Housing Commission’s work, this plan will see the State take a bigger role while also encouraging the private sector to play a key part in delivery. To accelerate progress, the plan includes regulatory reforms, tax incentives, and the largest ever investment in infrastructure in the history of the State - €275 billion over ten years through the National Development Plan.

 

Delivering Homes, Building Communities is a wide-ranging strategy that has two pillars as its foundation:

 

  1. Activating Supply
  2. Supporting People

 

The challenge is clear. This Government’s single biggest priority is the delivery of homes. Achieving the objectives set out in this strategy will require a joined-up, long-term effort – one that brings together central government, local authorities, housing bodies, the construction industry and community organisations. In this context, the 11th annual Housing Ireland conference will host a range of expert domestic and international speakers who will comprehensively explore the challenges, and tangible opportunities for Ireland’s housing practitioners as they seek to deliver on this plan.

Key issues

Key issues to be examined:

Replete with an expert panel of high-level speakers, both domestic and visiting, the conference will be comprehensive, examining themes which include:
  • Accelerating housing supply: Meeting the 2030 target
  • Ensuring a strong pipeline of zoned and serviced land
  • Addressing the legacy barriers that impede delivery
  • Increasing skills and supporting the adoption of MMC in the residential sector
  • Ending dereliction and vacancies
  • Aligning planning and infrastructure delivery
  • The role of AHBs as key delivery partners
  • Innovation in housing delivery
  • The role of local authorities in delivering housing
  • Delivering homes and integrated care for older people
  • Supporting social inclusion
  • Improving equality, diversity and inclusion for cohesive communities
  • Focusing on ending homelessness
  • Increasing affordable home ownership
  • Increasing the proportion of social and cost rental housing
  • Protecting renters
  • Environmentally sustainable housing
  • European housing policy perspective
Speakers

Confirmed speakers

James Browne TD

James Browne was appointed Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in January 2025. He was previously Minister of State at the Department of Justice with responsibility for International Law, Law Reform and Youth Justice. Browne was first elected to Dáil Éireann in the February 2016 general election as a representative of Wexford. He has served as the Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Mental Health, leading initiatives to reform mental health services in Ireland, including the Mental Health (Amendment) Act 2018 and served on the Oireachtas Committee on the Future of Mental Healthcare. He was born in Enniscorthy, Wexford, and is the oldest of a family of four. He was educated locally at St Mary’s CBS, Enniscorthy before attending Waterford IT, University College Cork, and the King’s Inns. He was called to the Bar in 2006.

 


Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Martin Whelan

Martin Whelan is CEO of The Housing Agency. Previously he served as a senior official at the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA), where he worked across the NTMA’s core international funding and investment, corporate financial advisory, project execution, and claims and risk management mandates and affiliate businesses including Home Building Finance Ireland and Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland. Prior to joining the NTMA, he was a member of the senior leadership team at the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA) during its critical start-up and growth phase. Martin has also held senior positions in management and business consultancy. He is a chartered director (Institute of Directors).

 


Chief Executive Officer
The Housing Agency

Averil Power

Averil Power is CEO of Clúid, one of Ireland’s leading not-for-profit approved housing bodies, with over 13,000 social, affordable and age friendly homes nationwide. Prior to joining Clúid in November 2025, she led the Irish Cancer Society and the Asthma Society of Ireland. She is also a former Senator and ministerial adviser. Averil has over 20 years’ experience in leadership, strategic transformation, public policy and communications. Having grown up in social housing, she has a deep personal commitment to Clúid’s mission and is working with its committed team to deliver more homes and an excellent resident experience.

 


CEO
Clúid Housing

Catherine Thomas

Catherine Thomas is Chief Corporate Affairs Officer of Clarion Group, the UK’s biggest housing association, with over 360,000 residents. She leads Clarion’s work to influence government policy and create positive change in the housing sector. Prior to joining Clarion in February 2020, Catherine held senior marketing and communications roles in real estate and retail. Her skills in placemaking and destination marketing were honed at Land Securities, where she led the communications team for Victoria SW1, including Nova, the highly successful mixed-use complex. She has also worked on major European and Middle Eastern real estate projects.

 


Chief Corporate Affairs Officer
Clarion Housing Group

Eddie Taaffe

Eddie Taaffe first joined Wexford County Council in 1997 holding various Engineering posts and in 2011 became Director of Service with responsibility for various council sections such as Water Services, Environment, Emergency Services, Corporate Services, Human Resources and Capital Development.  He has also spent time working as Director of Planning and Transportation with South Dublin County Council.  More recently, between 2020 and 2023, Eddie was seconded to the Local Government Management Agency where he led the Housing Delivery Co-ordination Office.    In February 2024, Eddie was appointed Chief Executive of Wexford County Council, which employs over 900 people and has an annual budget of €185 million and a capital programme of over €100 million per annum. Eddie is currently in his second year of a 2 year terms as Chairperson of the CCMA Housing Committee. Eddie has a degree in Civil Engineering and in Public Management.

 


Chief Executive
Wexford County Council

Mushtaq Khan

Mushtaq Khan is Chief Executive of the Housing Diversity Network, helping organisations and people to develop inclusive and thriving businesses. He has worked for a number of housing and regeneration organisations throughout his career, as well as running his own consultancy business. He was previously Director of Commercial Partnerships at the Jigsaw Group as well as Director at Aksa Homes, providing services to mostly south Asian residents. He has also worked at a senior level in local authorities for the over fifteen years, including working for large metropolitan councils in England such as Oldham, Trafford and Lambeth.

 


Chief Executive
Housing Diversity Network

Fidelma McManus

Fidelma McManus is a partner in Beauchamps’ Commercial Real Estate department and heads the firm’s specialised housing team. She has particular expertise in complex conveyancing and is an acknowledged market leader in the acquisition, development, and management of social and affordable housing. She is ranked as a leading individual by Legal 500 and is ranked in Chambers and Partners, and her housing team has been recognised for its contribution to Irish society with the Public Sector Excellence in Business Award for housing services for six successive years. She was also recently named one of the Business Post’s top 100 most influential people in property, underscoring her significant impact and leadership in the sector.

 


Partner and Head of Housing
Beauchamps

John Coleman

John Coleman has been Chief Executive of the Land Development Agency since its inception in September 2018. He previously held senior roles at Ireland’s National Asset Management Agency (NAMA), worked extensively on the set up of its Residential Delivery division and was its Chief Financial Officer. John is a graduate of University College Dublin (BComm) and a chartered accountant (FCA). Prior to joining NAMA in 2011, he worked in banking and accountancy.

 


Chief Executive
Land Development Agency

Karen Kenny

Karen Kenny is a Senior Advisor in National and regional and urban planning policy in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. She is involved in the development of national planning policy and has recently overseen development of the Sustainable Residential Development and Compact Settlement Guidelines for Planning Authorities 2024. With over 23 years’ experience as a professional planner Karen has worked across a variety of roles and has significant experience in the areas of urban and residential planning and development. Before joining DHLGH in 2021, Karen was a Senior Planning Inspector in An Bord Pleanála and has also worked in the local authority sector for an extended period. Karen holds qualifications in economics and geography and in regional and urban planning from University College Dublin (1999 and 2001). She also holds a qualification in environmental engineering from Trinity College Dublin (2004).

 


Senior Advisor
Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Siobhán Nic Thighearnáin

 

Housing Task Force
European Commission

Aoife Watters

Aoife Watters joined Respond as Chief Executive Officer in April 2025. She brings extensive leadership experience across both the charity sector and private industry, with a strong track record in governance, strategic planning, and financial management. She has held senior auditor roles in London and Dublin, as well as executive and non-executive roles in the not-for-profit sector, with a particular focus on housing and homelessness. She previously served as director of finance and corporate services for a large cross-border housing and homelessness charity. Aoife has also held board-level roles with another approved housing body (AHB) where she acted as chair and led its finance and audit subcommittee.

 


Chief Executive Officer
Respond

Christina McGill

 

Director of Social Impact & External Affairs
Habinteg Housing Association UK

Mary Hayes

Mary Hayes is the Director of the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive (DRHE) with over 30 years’ experience in homeless services. Mary has an extensive background and knowledge of social housing and the services provided by Dublin City Council. The DRHE is provided by Dublin City Council as the lead statutory local authority in the response to homelessness and adopts a shared service approach with the other three local authorities within Dublin. The DRHE has management responsibility for the provision and management of accommodation for homeless persons and also oversees the execution of funding to homelessness services in the region.

 


Director, Dublin Region Homeless Executive
Dublin City Council

Sharon Cosgrove

Sharon Cosgrove became CEO of Oaklee in 2016 and has led significant change and growth in the organisation during that time. Oaklee has an ambitious team with a passion to make a difference to the lives of their residents. Sharon held several previous senior roles in the NGO sector including CEO of the Asthma Society of Ireland and Sonas Housing. Sharon is a founding member of the Housing Alliance and sits on an ICSH working group. She has driven innovation in Oaklee, through delivery of Acorn Housing’s SPV and the Comhar Consortium, the first social housing PPP bundle in Ireland.

 


Chief Executive
Oaklee

Seán Moynihan

 

Chief Executive
ALONE

Kathleen Cottier

Kathleen Cottier was appointed as CEO at Fold Housing in January 2023. She has over 20 years’ experience working in the Irish housing association sector; leading development, property and housing teams. Prior to Fold, at executive level in Clúid and Clann Housing, she was responsible for front-line services and working to lead the organisations strategic development and growth as well as contributing to strengthening the Housing Association sector. Kath holds an MA in geography, diplomas in urban and community development, and property and facilities management, and an MSc in management practice from the Irish Management Institute. She is a chartered member of the Chartered Institute of Housing, and chair of its Ireland Board. She is also a founding member of the Construction Defects Alliance, lobbying for financial redress for individuals and Housing Associations who bought homes that do not meet building standards.

 


Chief Executive
Fold Housing

Derval McDonagh

 

Chief Executive
Inclusion Ireland

Sean O’Connor

Sean O’Connor is Chief Executive of Tuath Housing Association, the fastest-growing AHB in Ireland with over 15,000 social and affordable rent homes across the country, managed from offices in Cork, Dublin, Dundalk and Galway. He has a Master’s degree in housing from South Bank University, London and is a chartered surveyor with membership of the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, along with the Chartered Institute of Housing. Sean has worked in housing at a senior level for over 35 years in the private, public, and not-for-profit housing sectors delivering award winning schemes and establishing a solid track record of working with communities to deliver positive change.

 


Chief Executive
Tuath Housing

Julie Cruikshank

 

Head of Support Services
Hail Housing

Pat Dennigan

 

CEO
Focus Ireland

Programme

Conference programme

08:30

Registration and coffee

09:00

Chair's welcome and introduction

 

 Chair: Graham Doyle, Secretary General, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage  (invited)

09:05

Ministerial address: Delivering Homes, Building Communities
James Browne TD, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage


ACTIVATING SUPPLY

Delivering affordable homes on state lands
John Coleman, Chief Executive, Land Development Agency

Maintaining momentum in housing delivery
Fidelma McManus, Partner and Head of Housing, Beauchamps

Question and answer session 

HOUSING LEADERS PANEL: Overcoming the barriers to housing supply and delivery at scale

 

  • Sharon Cosgrove, Chief Executive, Oaklee
  • Sean O’Connor, Chief Executive, Tuath Housing
  • Averil Power, Chief Executive, Clúid Housing
  • Aoife Watters, Chief Executive, Respond
  • Martin Whelan, Chief Executive, The Housing Agency

11:00

Morning break

11:25

Delivering the European Affordable Housing Plan
Siobhán Nic Thighearnáin, Housing Task Force, European Commission 

The 5 new giants of opportunity: A new social contract for housing
Catherine Thomas, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Clarion Housing Group

Delivering infrastructure to support new housing
Karen Kenny, Senior Advisor, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Rental sector reform: Policies for stability, renter protection, and increased housing supply
Rosemary Steen, Chief Executive, Residential Tenancies Board (invited)

Local authorities at the centre: Accelerating housing supply, reducing dereliction, and supporting communities
Eddie Taaffe, Chief Executive, Wexford County Council


Question & answer session / Panel discussion

13:15

Lunch break

14:00

Chair: Senior Representative, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage


SUPPORTING PEOPLE

Building cohesive communities: How to improve equality, diversity and inclusion
Mushtaq Khan, Chief Executive, Housing Diversity Network

Delivering a new model of housing for older people in Ireland
Kathleen Cottier, Chief Executive, Fold Housing

Designing for inclusion: Understanding the ‘why’ behind standards and community-led housing design
Christina McGill, Director of Social Impact & External Affairs, Habinteg Housing Association

Question and answer session

DISCUSSION PANEL: Ending homelessness, delivering homes for older people and supporting social inclusion

 

  • Kathleen Cottier, Chief Executive, Fold Housing
  • Julie Cruikshank, Head of Support Services, Hail Housing
  • Pat Dennigan, CEO, Focus Ireland
  • Mary Hayes, Director, Dublin Region Homeless Executive, Dublin City Council
  • Derval McDonagh, Chief Executive, Inclusion Ireland
  • Seán Moynihan, Chief Executive, ALONE
  • Senior Representative, The Housing Agency

16:00

CHAIR’S CONCLUDING REMARKS AND CONFERENCE CLOSE

Who should attend

Who should attend?

The conference will attract stakeholders engaged in all aspects of housing policy, funding, delivery, and management, including senior managers in the public, private, and third sectors in Ireland.

It will be of particular interest to:

  • Professionals in housing policy and delivery
  • Government departments and agencies
  • Those providing social welfare advice
  • Approved housing bodies
  • Policy / public affairs advisors
  • The construction industry
  • Project funders
  • Legal advisors
  • Housing and planning consultants
  • The community and voluntary sector / NGOs
  • Local elected representatives
 
 

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Register

Reserve your place

 

Delegate rate for AHBs and voluntary sector

€245
+ VAT @ 23%
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REGISTER
 

Standard delegate
rate

€345
+ VAT @ 23%
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REGISTER
 

Getting to the venue

Croke Park

Jones' Road
Drumcondra
Dublin 3, Ireland

 
 

Housing Ireland Magazine

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