Policy Forum for Ireland

This conference examined key issues for housing policy and delivery in Ireland.

It brought stakeholders and policymakers together to discuss implementation of recent planning reform - including the Planning and Development Act 2024 and the revised National Planning Framework - alongside the Delivering Homes, Building Communities strategy, and its aims to build 300,000 houses by 2030, improve affordability, and tackle homelessness.

Delegates considered alignment with long-term goals in Project Ireland 2040, and assessed the effectiveness of measures set out in current housing policy and strategy, alongside practical issues for projects moving forward - including concerns from some around feasibility, under-delivery of social housing and a need for clarity on different tenure types.

Lessons from the Housing for All programme since its launch in 2021, alongside findings from the Housing Commission Report were also considered - including their role in informing strategic reform and developing a more sustainable system for housing in Ireland. There was also a focus on tackling homelessness, as the Youth Homelessness Strategy is implemented and with the Child and Family Homelessness Action Plan expected to be published shortly.

New housing targets - policy, funding & meeting demand
Delegates looked at what is needed for implementation of the revised NPF, alongside the Planning Act, and the potential impact on housing delivery timeframes, local planning decisions, and zoning practices. Priorities for creating a pipeline of zoned land were examined, with discussion on the role of the Land Development Agency, the new Housing Activation Office, the strategic role of Urban Development Zones, and co-ordination of housing policy with infrastructure provision and workforce availability.

Attendees also considered latest thinking on funding streams and financing models to boost private sector delivery of housing, optimise public schemes, and improve viability. Challenges faced by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies in accessing capital for social housing projects were examined, alongside how concerns from some might be addressed around a shortage of finance needed to build 300,000 homes by 2030. Priorities for Home Building Finance Ireland and the Housing Finance Agency in delivery were assessed, alongside the future direction for Real Estate Fund structures, as well as co-ordination with funding available through the European Affordable Housing Plan.

Addressing challenges for development - national and local alignment, capacity to meet demand & workforce skills
Further concerns around the alignment of local development plans with national housing targets were discussed, alongside consistency and pace of zoning decisions, and operation of statutory timelines. Delegates assessed the capacity of local authorities, An Coimisiún Pleanála, and the private sector to manage increased demands, as well as approaches to skills development and utilisation of additional supply to mitigate pressures. Strategies to support the private sector were considered, including in attracting capital and mitigating baseline costs.

With concerns around the capacity of the construction workforce to meet housing targets, attendees looked at approaches to upskilling the workforce, training for modern methods of construction, and retaining talent. Expectations for skills initiatives were discussed, including a forthcoming 5-year Action Plan for Apprenticeships and the recently published National Framework for Meeting Priority Construction Workforce Needs which raised concerns around a large and urgent workforce skills gap and the need to improve productivity and construction methods.

Tackling homelessness, increasing social housing supply & addressing affordability concerns
The agenda also included a focus on what is needed to help progress towards meeting the Government’s aim to end homelessness by 2030 and developing a homelessness prevention framework. Next steps for strengthening support measures for exiting temporary accommodation, the role of housing authorities, and the Housing First programme were explored, as well as effective co-ordination between national government, local authorities, and Approved Housing Bodies, including funding provision and guidance for child-centred support.

Ways forward for increasing social housing were considered, with some stakeholders pointing to a potential gap between demand and delivery in the Delivering Homes plan. Sessions looked at practicalities for sectoral reform initiatives outlined in the Report of the Approved Housing Body Strategic Forum, including new funding and income models.

Discussion also focused on options for improving housing affordability, with aims for 15,000 starter homes to be built annually under the Delivering Homes plan, and further moves designed to support home ownership - including coordination of the Help to Buy Scheme, First Home Scheme and Shared Equity. Implications of reform to the rental sector to support affordability were assessed, such as greater support for tenants, the extension of Rent Pressure Zone rules, and a system of rent control for new tenancies from March 2026.

Community needs, regional development & regeneration
Further sessions considered how housing policy can best support needs within the community. With a forthcoming action plan on social and private housing for older people, the Student Accommodation Strategy, and ongoing implementation of the National Housing Strategy for Disabled People: 2022-2027, delegates looked at how these can best be implemented to meet specific housing needs, with discussion on balancing high design standards with pace and cost of delivery - as well as priorities for a Building Standards Agency.

The agenda also explored next steps for regional development and regeneration. Priorities for planning and funding in rural areas, towns, and villages were assessed - with initiatives such as the Town Centre First Principle, support for SME housebuilders, designation of key towns, and the Rural Development Investment Programme. The effectiveness of policies in tackling dereliction and vacancy to create additional supply was considered, looking at options for city development, housebuilding to be prioritised in existing urban zones, and next steps for a taskforce model to be applied to Ireland’s cities.

As well as key stakeholders, those attending included officials from the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science; Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, NI; Department for Infrastructure, NI; and Department for the Economy, NI.

This conference examined next steps for AI adoption and regulation in Ireland, particularly in the context of new EU requirements, national legislation in development, and wider commitments on innovation, digital transformation, and public service delivery.

It brought stakeholders and policymakers together to examine measures in the EU AI Act and the Oireachtas’ implementation roadmap, as well as the Artificial Intelligence (Regulation) Bill, expected to be brought to the Oireachtas early in 2026.

Implementation of the AI Act
Areas for discussion included the designation and resourcing of sectoral regulators amidst concerns over preparedness, the coordination of a lead authority, and Ireland’s influence at an EU level through the AI Board. It was also an opportunity to discuss key recommendations from the AI Advisory Council, including on sandboxes and copyright, and latest thinking on the Oireachtas Committee on AI’s work on responsible AI deployment. Attendees also looked at how the Act might apply to Northern Ireland.

With the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment confirming the appointment of 15 competent authorities in September 2025, delegates assessed next steps in the delivery of a distributed model to regulation. There was also a focus on the future role and practical delivery of the functions of the AI Office of Ireland as it is established, following a €25.5m funding increase recently announced in the DETE Budget 2026.

Discussion looked at next steps for domestic legislation, including priorities for development of the draft Bill and the extent to which it may go beyond EU requirements to support national objectives on oversight, enforcement, and innovation. Collaboration between national bodies in relation to high-risk systems under Article 77 was also discussed, as well as where further clarity might be needed on roles, mandates, and cross-sectoral consistency.

Economic opportunities & responsible growth
With the AI Economy in Ireland 2025 report from Trinity College and Microsoft forecasting AI’s potential €250bn contribution to the economy by 2035, we expected discussion on what is needed moving forward in positioning Ireland as a leading AI hub. Stakeholder responses to the EU’s Apply AI Strategy were considered. Discussion focused on the scale of investment needed to support infrastructure, innovation, and enterprise growth.

Delegates also considered responsible deployment and growth of AI. Attendees looked at ways to improve public trust and ethical safeguards, amid growing concerns over clarity and responsibility of AI use in the public sector. Next steps for tackling concerns about human rights and discrimination, raised by IHREC and the ICCL were considered, as well as the role of certification, procurement standards, and public-private partnerships in enabling safe deployment.

Supporting business adoption
Implications for innovation, compliance, and business capacity were considered, particularly in relation to the National AI Strategy Refresh. Attendees looked at next steps for the establishment of sandboxes, priorities for the National AI Research Nexus, and support needed for digital upskilling and SME engagement. Recent measures, including the Budget 2026 Enterprise Ireland allocation, were also considered.

Delegates examined classification challenges for businesses under the EU AI Act, alongside new documentation and governance requirements, as well as priorities for the NSAI in developing standards, certifying organisations, and supporting adoption of the ISO/IEC 42001 standard. With recent surveys highlighting low awareness and uneven adoption of governance practices among Irish organisations, sessions also examined priorities for regulatory clarity, sectoral guidance, and tailored support to assist in responsible deployment, particularly for SMEs and start-ups.

Regulatory readiness
Delegates assessed implications of the Act for businesses and regulators, with a focus on resourcing and readiness amid growing concerns over sectoral preparedness, such as operational pressures, capacity for supervision, specialist staffing, and alignment on interpretation and enforcement. Delegates also examined the contribution of the AI Board in influencing European governance frameworks, supporting standardisation, and contributing to regulatory consistency across Member States.

All delegates were able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. As well as key stakeholders, those who attended include officials from the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, ROI; Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, ROI; Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, NI; Department for the Economy, NI; Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, UK; Department for Business and Trade, UK; Home Office, UK; the Welsh Government; and The Scottish Government.

This conference examined the future of Sláintecare in Ireland, with a focus on the next phase of healthcare reform, and challenges and opportunities for implementing a single-tier, universal health system.

Sláintecare implementation
It brought policymakers, healthcare professionals, patient advocates, and key stakeholders together to consider practical strategies for overcoming current obstacles in healthcare delivery, funding, and workforce planning and capacity. The conference followed publication of the Department of Health’s Sláintecare 2025+ plan, as well as the Sláintecare Implementation Progress Report 2024, providing key insights into progress so far and priorities for reform. It also took place in the context of continued discussion on resource demands of a universal healthcare model, and the need for greater integration of primary and community-based care.

HSE Health Regions
The conference also took place as work continues on the establishment of Health Regions, aimed at delivering more integrated, locally-managed healthcare, with delegates considering its implications for service planning, governance, and resource allocation.

Policy coordination
Sessions looked at aligning transformation priorities with HSE’s National Service Plan and Sláintecare objectives, ensuring a consistent and coordinated approach to reform across all Health Regions. Delegates examined lessons learnt from both domestic initiatives and international healthcare systems, as well as identifying priorities for future investment and policy development.

Access, provision, governance structures, and ensuring sustainable services in the long-term
Further discussion addressed key issues such as ensuring equitable access to care, governance and accountability structures, and the role of digital health solutions in supporting sustainable healthcare reform. The long-term impact of demographic changes, regional disparities, and health inequalities on service provision were also considered.

We are pleased to have been able to include keynote sessions with: Pat Healy, National Director, National Services and Schemes, HSE; and Professor Steve Thomas, Edward Kennedy Professor, Health Policy, Public Health and Primary Care, Trinity College Dublin.

Overall areas for discussion included:

• Sláintecare implementation and governance:
  
  • reviewing the progress of Sláintecare reform and addressing barriers to implementation
  • effective leadership, governance, and accountability in healthcare transformation
  • strengthening collaboration between government, health authorities, and service providers
  • assessing the role and effectiveness of the Sláintecare Programme Board in driving reform
• equitable access to healthcare:
  
  • strategies to reduce waiting times and improve access to services, particularly in underserved regions
  • impact of the €420m patient waiting list fund, which aims to reduce waiting times to around five months
  • addressing the inverse care law and ensuring healthcare provision aligns with population needs
  • tackling health inequalities and improving outcomes for disadvantaged communities
• workforce and capacity challenges:
  
  • strategies to improve recruitment, retention, and workforce planning, alongside reducing staff burnout
  • addressing staff shortages and ensuring equitable pay and working conditions across regions
  • supporting healthcare professionals through training, career progression, and innovation
• digital health and innovation:
  
  • advancing the role of technology in improving service delivery and patient outcomes
  • exploring opportunities for digital health solutions, telemedicine, and AI in healthcare
  • ensuring data security and interoperability to enhance patient care
• funding and resource allocation:
  
  • assessing investment priorities to support sustainable healthcare reform
  • addressing funding gaps and ensuring financial sustainability for universal healthcare
  • exploring models for cost-effective service delivery while maintaining high standards of care
• community and primary care integration:
  
  • strengthening primary and community-based healthcare services
  • promoting preventative care and reducing reliance on hospital-based services
  • enhancing collaboration between health, social care, and voluntary sector organisations
  • encouraging stronger resource sharing and collaboration between health authorities and service providers
  • evaluating the progress of establishing HSE’s Health Regions as part of structural reforms aimed at decentralising services 
  • assessing funding mechanisms for Health Regions and funding priorities to meet urgent patient need
  • strategies for improving integration of health and social care and ensuring consistent access and governance across regions, especially in Community Healthcare Networks

All delegates were able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. As well as key stakeholders, those who attended include officials from DoH, ROI; DCEDIY, ROI; DoH, NI; and The Scottish Government.

This conference focused on next steps for planning policy in Ireland, looking at objectives from the National Planning Framework.

Areas for discussion included delivery of increased housing, developing the rural economy, regional connectivity and accessibility, and moving forward on net zero commitments, as well as implementation of key climate infrastructure and advancing decarbonised transport.

It was a timely opportunity for stakeholders and policymakers to discuss the new Government’s planning priorities, with the Draft Programme for Government recommitting to aligning policy and planning with the National Planning Framework.

Sessions also considered measures recently implemented under the Planning and Development Act 2024. Delegates will consider priorities and implementation issues for proposals in the Act. Delegates assessed strategies for alleviating a growing backlog of planning applications and the role of the An Coimisiún Pleanála, as well as priorities for the commission as it approaches its role in improving efficiency, transparency and the speed of decision-making.

Those attending discussed what is needed from policy, regulation and action from key stakeholders in order to meet the necessary delivery of homes in Ireland in a way that supports net zero ambitions, with housing set as a key priority in the Draft Programme for Government, including proposed targets to deliver 300,000 new homes by the end of 2030. This follows findings from the Housing Commission that 60,000 new homes per year are necessary to manage expected population growth, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency’s projection that currently implemented policies can only deliver an 11% reduction in greenhouse emissions by 2030, much below the 51% target.

Following the Government’s consultation on the Draft Revision of National Planning Framework, delegates discussed key priorities for the development of Ireland’s rural economy, including enhancing regional connectivity and broadband access, alongside safeguarding key economic drivers such as natural resources and the agriculture sector, and what is needed going forward from rural development policy. There was also discussion on key environmental considerations, including the implementation of transport orientated development (TOD) and actionable strategies to increase electric vehicle adoption.

The discussion took place following the Government’s announcement of resourcing changes to the planning system in the Draft Programme for Government, with funding earmarked for the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund, and increased staffing levels for An Bord Pleanála, the Office of the Planning Regulator and local authority planning departments.

We also expected discussion on issues around international compliance and the Planning and Development Act 2024, against concerns expressed by the UN’s Aarhus Compliance Committee over opportunities for public oversight of extension of planning permission.

We are pleased to have been able to include keynote sessions with: Claragh Mulhern, Acting Principal Planning Adviser, Chief Planner, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage; Niall Cussen, Chief Executive and Planning Regulator, Office of the Planning Regulator; Robert Costello, Partner, Capital Projects and Infrastructure, PwC Ireland; Dr Gavin Daly, Research and Policy Manager, European Spatial Planning Observatory Network; and Gavin Lawlor, President, Irish Planning Institute.

All delegates were able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. As well as key stakeholders, those that attended include officials from DAFM; DHLGH; DECC; DETE; DoT; DFHERIS; OPR; DAERA, NI; DfI, NI; MHCLG, UK; DBT, UK; and ONS.