Cork Social Housing Forum

Lobbying Organisation Cork Social Housing Forum

Date published 20 Sep, 2016

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Housing

Period 1 May, 2016 to 31 Aug, 2016

Specific Details HAP and rent allowance align with current market rents. Cap rents and link to consumer price index. Speed up turnover of voids. Put plan in place to use Local Authority land banks, derelict sites for social housing. Use CPO to acquire other suitable sites and properties for social housing.

Intended results People on HAP able to compete for and access housing in private rental market Speed up and increase output of social housing units to address the housing and homelessness crisis More social housing units if provided in sufficient numbers will bring more balance to the market and apply downward pressure on rents.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Helena Crotty (Chairperson) and other members of the Cork Social Housing Forum in attendance at the meeting.

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Meeting (1)

The Agenda for the day included: a) HAP - simplify the system b) Private Rented Sector - seeking greater security for tenants, increasing their ability to access private rented sector c) Voids, improve system of turning around voids in Local Authority area to speed up delivery. d) Land banks/Derelict sites - Local Authorities and AHB working in partnership to maximise the delivery of social housing. e) Capital Assistance Scheme, seeking a multi-annual programme of calls for CAS funding for AHBs to acquire, renovate and build social housing. f) Making the case for research into why people on the social housing list may refuse offers of housing. The Minister was given a copy of the Cork Social Housing Forum submission and additional information provided to Oireachtas Committee on Housing and Homelessness. Meeting took place on 4th July 2016 at O'Connell Court, Doughcloyne, Togher, Cork.

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Simon Coveney Minister (Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government)