Fold Ireland

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

Intent: To attend the conference. Fold Housing CEO also spoke at one of the workshops which was on Strengthening AHB Delivery: Data, Discipline, and Scalable Processes.

Methods: Event / Reception

Politician(s) lobbied: Coilín O'Reilly (Chief Executive Officer), Carlow County Council

Intent: To show an example of an age friendly housing development as requested by Carlow Co. Co. On 25 Feb 2026, Tina Donaghy, Director of Development & New Business received a text from Coilin O’Reilly, Chief Executive, Carlow Co. Co. advising that they are continuing to develop their age friendly town centre concept for Carlow Town and requesting a visit for Carlow Co. Councillors and staff to the Fold Housing scheme at New Dolphin Park. The visit was facilitated by Fold Housing.

Methods: Event / Reception

Politician(s) lobbied: Eoin Ó Broin (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Joe Cooney (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Aubrey McCarthy (Senator), Seanad; Micheál Carrigy (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Maria McCormack (Senator), Seanad; Seamus McGrath (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Rory Hearne (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Anne Rabbitte (Senator), Seanad

Intent: To provide information and material on Fold Housing as requested by the Joint Committee in their invitation letter.

Methods: Email

Politician(s) lobbied: Eoin Ó Broin (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Thomas Gould (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas

Intent: Attended at the invitation of the ICSH who were briefing on their strategy for the social housing sector ahead of the 2026 Budget announcements.

Methods: Meeting

Politician(s) lobbied: James Browne (Minister), Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage; Jack Chambers (Minister), Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform; Kieran O'Donnell (Minister of State), Department of Health; Tom O'Leary (Councillor), Fingal County Council; Tom Kitt (Councillor), Fingal County Council; Angela Donnelly (Councillor), Fingal County Council; AnnMarie Farrelly (Chief Executive Officer), Fingal County Council; Eimear Carbone-Mangan (Councillor), Fingal County Council; Ellen Troy (Councillor), Fingal County Council; Gerard Sheehan (Councillor), Fingal County Council; John-Kingsley Onwumereh (Councillor), Fingal County Council; Emer Currie (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Paul Donnelly (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Paul Carroll (Director), Fingal County Council

Intent: Ireland is experiencing a significant demographic shift, with the population aged 65 and over projected to rise from 15.7% in 2022 to over 25% by 2040. As people live longer, the demand for homes that support independent, safe, and connected living is growing rapidly. The event was scheduled to demonstrate how innovative partnerships between local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) can respond to this challenge.

Methods: Event / Reception

Politician(s) lobbied: Paul Benson (Acting Assistant Secretary), Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Intent: We invited our partners from across the statutory, voluntary, and private sectors as an opportunity to thank them for their support as they provide an important contribution to meeting our vision of visibly improving the quality of people’s lives through the accommodation and support we provide. This may be considered a networking event rather than lobbying as no lobbying was carried out at the event.

Methods: Event / Reception

Politician(s) lobbied: Unknown

Intent: Unknown

Methods: Unknown

Politician(s) lobbied: Paul McAuliffe (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas

Intent: Advice on how to proceed / explore the possibility of accessing funds for the programme.

Methods: Phone call

Politician(s) lobbied: Paul McAuliffe (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas

Intent: Advice on how to proceed / explore the possibility of accessing the funds.

Methods: Email

Politician(s) lobbied: Aine Stapleton (Assistant Secretary), Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage; Caroline Timmons (Assistant Secretary), Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Intent: General conversation at the dinner table. Sought to increase the profile of the CIH, and the understanding of the work, to Senior Leaders in the Dept. of Housing.

Methods: Event / Reception