Focus Ireland

Politician(s) lobbied: James Browne (Minister), Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Intent: To influence housing and homelessness policy and funding by advocating for enhanced supports, prevention measures, and expansion of Housing First, and to inform Government decision-making through engagement with Designated Public Officials

Methods: Event / Reception

Politician(s) lobbied: James Browne (Minister), Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Intent: To influence housing and homelessness policy and funding through advocacy for enhanced supports, including increases to HAP, strengthened prevention measures, and the expansion of Housing First, and to inform Government decision-making through direct engagement with Designated Public Officials and sector stakeholders. This included participation in a conference panel and associated discussions.

Methods: Event / Reception

Politician(s) lobbied: John McDonald (Special Adviser), Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Intent: To influence the development and application of CAS and CALF funding models by advocating for approaches that support increased housing delivery and improved access to funding for Approved Housing Bodies, and to inform Departmental understanding of sectoral challenges and priorities through engagement with the Minister’s Special Adviser.

Methods: Phone call

Politician(s) lobbied: David Leach (Assistant Secretaries or Equivalent Grades), Department of Health

Intent: Greater Co-ordination between policies on Health, homelessness and housing

Methods: LetterMeeting

Politician(s) lobbied: Mary Hayes (Director of Services or Equivalent), Dublin City Council

Intent: To identify innovative solutions and strengthen service provision for families experiencing homelessness.

Methods: Meeting

Politician(s) lobbied: Simon Harris (Tánaiste and Minister), Department of Foreign Affairs; Conor Glynn (Special Advisor to the Tanaiste), Department of the Taoiseach

Intent: To obtain a public clarification confirming the housing rights of those in emergency accommodation, promote fact-based debate on migration and homelessness, and mitigate stigma and misuse of the original remarks.

Methods: Letter

Politician(s) lobbied: Mary Hayes (Director of Services or Equivalent), Dublin City Council; Elizabeth Canavan (Assistant Secretary), Department of the Taoiseach; Eoin Ó Broin (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas

Intent: Higher priority for homelessness solutions in European Affordable Housing Plan and during the Irish EU presidency from Jul-Dec 2026

Methods: Meeting

Politician(s) lobbied: John McDonald (Special Adviser), Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Intent: Meeting with Minister's advisor to discuss policy relating to new Housing Strategy and advocate for key interventions and policies that Focus Ireland believes would reduce homelessness

Methods: Meeting

Politician(s) lobbied: Aisling Dunne (Special Adviser), Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Intent: To make Minister's advisor aware of a number of issues related to children in emergency accommadation and issues with childcare for parents in emergency accommadation

Methods: Meeting

Politician(s) lobbied: John McDonald (Special Adviser), Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Intent: To better understand how homelessness would feature in the new Government Housing Strategy

Methods: Phone call