Written answers

Tuesday, 26 January 2010

Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government

Housing Forum

8:00 pm

Photo of Michael D HigginsMichael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 484: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the statement in the Towards 2016 policy document that the housing forum will play an important part in inputting policy development and evaluating outcomes over the ten year period of the framework agreement including housing issues in both the urban and rural environments reviewed following the first phase of the ten year framework agreement; and if the minutes of housing forum will be placed in the library of the Houses of the Oireachtas. [3082/10]

Photo of Michael D HigginsMichael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 485: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the involvement a group (details supplied) and other representatives have had regarding the housing forum since its inception; the evaluation of the housing situation of the housing forum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3083/10]

Photo of Michael D HigginsMichael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 486: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the composition of the housing forum; the reports, minutes or other documents that have been produced during its existence; the person who sets its meeting agendas, calls and chairs its meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3084/10]

Photo of Michael FinneranMichael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 484 to 486, inclusive, together.

The Housing Forum, as reconstituted under Towards 2016 in December 2006, has met on six occasions and I am arranging to have the minutes of those meetings, already adopted by the members, placed in the Oireachtas Library.

The Forum provides an opportunity for its members to contribute constructively to ongoing housing policy formulation and implementation. It also has a monitoring role in relation to activity on housing programmes. The Forum does not produce specific reports or papers; however, progress reports are prepared periodically for meetings of the Forum and I am arranging to have copies of these reports placed in the Oireachtas Library also.

Schedules showing the composition and current membership of the Forum are attached. It is entirely a matter for each of the bodies participating in the Forum – the social partnership pillars, Government Departments and Agencies – to nominate their own representatives. Meetings are chaired by me in my capacity as Minister for Housing and Local Services and are arranged after consultation with the members. The members are also entitled to put forward items for inclusion on meeting agendas.

Composition of the Housing Forum
Chair Minister for Housing and Local Services
Social Partners
Employers PillarTwo nominees
Trade Union PillarTwo nominees
Community and Voluntary PillarTwo nominees
Farming PillarTwo nominees
Environment PillarTwo nominees
Government Departments
Dept. of an TaoiseachOne nominee
Dept. of FinanceOne nominee
Dept. of Social and Family AffairsOne nominee
Dept. of Justice, Equality and Law ReformOne nominee
Dept. of Health and ChildrenOne nominee
Dept. of the Environment, Heritage and Local GovernmentOne nominee
Other Agencies
Local Authority Housing Practitioners NetworkOne nominee
City & County Managers Association (Standing Committee- Housing)One nominee
City & County Managers Association (Community, Social and Economic Development, Committee)One nominee
Affordable Homes PartnershipChief Executive Officer
Centre for Housing ResearchDirector
Voluntary & Co-operative Housing SectorICSH – one nomineeNABCo – one nominee
SecretariatHousing Policy and Finance Section
Membership of the Housing Forum
Chair Michael Finneran, T.D., Minister for Housing and Local Services
Social Partners
Employers Pillar IBEC Construction Industry FederationMr Fergal O'BrienMr Hubert Fitzpatrick
Trade Union PillarIrish Congress of Trade UnionsMr Fergus WhelanMr Des Geraghty
Community and Voluntary PillarDisability Federation of IrelandSimon CommunityMs Joanne McCarthyMr Patrick Burke(Alternate) Fr Sean Healy (CORI)
Farming PillarICOSIFAMr Seamus O'DonohoeMr Gerry Gunning
Environment PillarMs. Emer O' SiochruMr Michael Ewing
Government Departments
Dept. of an TaoiseachMs Sharon Finegan(Alternate) Mr John Callinan
Dept. of FinanceMs Breda Kenny
Dept. of Social and Family AffairsMs Ursula Gilhawley
Dept. of Justice, Equality and Law Reformvacant
Dept. of Health and ChildrenMs Mary Reilly
Dept. of the Environment, Heritage and Local GovernmentMr Philip Nugent
Other Agencies
Local Authority Housing Practitioners NetworkMs Anne Marie Walsh
City & County Managers Association (Housing Committee)Mr Peter Carey(Laois County Council)
City & County Managers Association (Community Committee)Mr Declan Nelson(Monaghan County Council)
Affordable Homes PartnershipMr John O'Connor
Centre for Housing ResearchMr David Silke
Voluntary & Co-operative Housing SectorIrish Council for Social HousingNABCoMr Donal McManusMr Bernard Thompson

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