This event is part of Maynooth University Social Justice Week Organised by Dr Rory Hearne, Department of Applied Social Studies and supported by Maynooth University Social Sciences Institute (MUSSI).
Conference organiser, Dr Rory Hearne, explained that this conference takes place at a vital point for housing in Ireland. We are in an unprecedented crisis with homelessness continuing to worsen. But the also crisis affects a broad range of groups from Generation Rent affected by unaffordable rents and insecurity of tenure, and the inability to secure affordable homes for purchase, and increasingly middle and elderly aged renters who face the challenge of affording rents on retirement, to the lack of housing for those with disabilities, and minority groups. This conference hears from experts in housing, those affected, from homeless to Travellers, students, and workers, NGOs in the field, housing agencies, cooperatives and housing associations, about the human impact of the crisis, the solutions, and how can provide affordable housing for all while also addressing the climate targets and energy efficiency. The necessity to shift policy towards a right to housing framework will also be a central discussion to the conference.
Speakers include,
John O’Connor, Chief Executive, The Housing Agency, Orla Hegarty, Lecturer/Assistant Professor, School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy, UCD,
Hugh Brennan, Chief Executive, Ó Cualann Cohousing Alliance CLG, Rosemary Hennigan, Policy Coordinator, Focus Ireland,
Dr Niall Muldoon, Ombudsman for Children,
Fr Peter McVerry, Advocate and Campaigner,
Patricia King, General Secretary of ICTU
Dr Rory Hearne, Department of Applied Social Studies and author of Housing Shock: The Irish Housing Crisis and How to Solve it.
Conference outline:
Tea Coffee/registration 9.30am - 10am ,Foyer Callan Building, North Campus
Session 1: 10am – 11am CB9, 1st Floor, Callan Building, North Campus A new vision for public, affordable and sustainable homes for all John O’Connor, Chief Executive, The Housing Agency Dr Mary Murphy, Department of Sociology, Maynooth University Orla Hegarty, Lecturer/Assistant Professor, School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy, UCD Colette Bennett, Research & Policy Analyst, Social Justice Ireland
Session 2: 11 – 12pm 10am – 11am CB9, 1st Floor, Callan Building, North Campus How to deliver affordable sustainable homes for all Hugh Brennan, Chief Executive, Ó Cualann Cohousing Alliance CLG Dr Daithi Downey, Dublin City Council Housing Observatory Dr Lorcan Sirr, TU Dublin, author of Housing in Ireland; The A to Z Guide Fiona Dunkin, Housing Policy Officer, Clúid Housing Declan Daly, Tipperary Energy Agency
Session 3 12 pm to 1 pm 10am – 11am CB9, 1st Floor, Callan Building, North Campus The human impact of homelessness and the housing crisis Rosemary Hennigan, Policy Coordinator, Focus Ireland Dr Niall Muldoon, Ombudsman for Children Bernard Joyce, Director, Irish Traveller Movement Screening of ‘Through the Cracks’ short documentary on the experience of homeless families in emergency accommodation’ With introduction from Ingrid Casey (poet, artist, and producer of Through The Cracks) & input from documentary participant directly affected by homelessness.
Lunch 1pm to 2pm – Light lunch provided in MUSSI Iontas Building
Session 4: 2 pm to 3pm John Hume Building, JHL5 Achieving a right to housing for all in Ireland – what now? Fr Peter McVerry, Advocate and Campaigner Patricia King, General Secretary of ICTU John-Mark McCafferty, Chief Executive, Threshold Dr Rory Hearne, Department of Applied Social Studies, Maynooth University, Author of Housing Shock: The Irish Housing Crisis and How to Solve it (Forthcoming June 2020) Michelle Byrne, Campaigns Officer, Union of Students in Ireland Aisling Hedderman, Community Activist, North Dublin Bay Housing Crisis Community
Contact details: Dept of Applied Social Studies Laraghbryan House, North Campus, Maynooth University Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland Telephone: +353 (0)1 7083743/ +353 (0)1 7084574. Email: appliedsocialstudies@mu.ie