Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 January 2022
551. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the Commission on Housing including the membership of same; the number of applicants; the names of the unsuccessful applicants; the terms of reference; the work programme; and the timeline for the modules being considered. [1875/22]
View answerThe Commission on Housing is now established and held its first meeting on 12th January 2022.
Mr. John O’Connor has been appointed as chair of the Commission on Housing. The Commission comprises of 12 Members, including the Chair. I appointed nine members following a public campaign seeking expressions of interest in membership of the Commission and appointed a further two international experts.
Members of the Commission on Housing include:
- Pat Doyle, CEO Peter McVerry Trust
- Sorcha Edwards, Secretary General Housing Europe (International)
- Paddy Gray, Professor Emeritus of Housing, Ulster University (International)
- Patricia King, General Secretary Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU)
- Ronan Lyons, Associate Professor, Department of Economics, Trinity College Dublin
- Kathryn Meghen, CEO Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI)
- Michelle Norris, Director of the Geary Institute for Public Policy and Professor of Social Policy UCD
- David O'Connor, Consultant and Former County Manager of Fingal County Council
- John O'Connor, Chair of the Commission on Housing
- Michael O'Flynn, Chair and CEO of O'Flynn Group
- Brian O'Gorman, Chief Executive Cluid Housing
- Ailbhe O'Neill, Barrister and Trinity College Dublin School of Law
A total of 76 applicants submitted an Expression of Interest. In keeping with our obligations under data protection legislation to protect the rights and privacy of individuals, we are not in a position to disclose the details of unsuccessful candidates which under the terms of the assessment process are treated as strictly confidential.
The Terms of Reference are available on the Commissions website - www.gov.ie/housingcommission/
I understand that the Commission is developing its programme of work over the coming weeks. It should be noted that the Commission on Housing is independent from my Department. The Commission will be publishing information on their website as provided above, including agendas and minutes of meetings.
