Speakers at Momentum Matters | Accelerate 2025 emphasise that regaining delivery momentum for housing requires moving beyond policy announcements to practical implementation of Ireland’s revised National Development Plan
- Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne T.D. indicates determination to cut through unnecessary red tape on planning and get home building moving for people and families;
- Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, Jack Chambers T.D. emphasised the 2025 National Development Plan Review as a pivotal opportunity to align investment with housing needs;
- In our survey the majority of people think the target of 300,000 new homes cannot be delivered by 2030 because the system does not have the ability to scale quickly enough given current capacity constraints.
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DUBLIN, 2 SEPTEMBER 2025: The Beauchamps Housing Conference, Momentum Matters | Accelerate 2025, convened today at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre, bringing together over 450 policy-makers, public bodies, developers, home builders, funders and industry leaders for focused discussions on converting recent policy advances into accelerated housing delivery, particularly in the context of the revised National Development Plan (NDP) Review 2025 and the government's new National Housing Plan.
Opening the conference, Minister James Browne T.D.'s remarked, “I have gained significant momentum in this brief since taking over the reins in January. It began with a swift analysis of where we were, and what we need to do to unclog the system."
“I’ve clearly marked the card of this sector on my intention to snip through unnecessary delays to delivery of homes of all tenure types as quickly as it is possible. I am moving at pace because I am driven by the genuine intent to tackle what is a housing crisis in the country."
“We’ve made significant progress in delivering new housing and launching schemes that have provided secure homes for thousands of individuals and families at a scale not seen since the 1970s. While no single solution changes the game, there can be no doubt when it comes to the policy changes I have made in the first half of this year that I clear on making sure we can deliver faster for all those who need our housing market - and system - to function far better now and in the coming years."
“People are behind every statistic – from those in emergency accommodation, to those who are saving for mortgages across the country. We have to respond across the board, and I am working closely with Minister Chambers to ensure the infrastructure is there to meet the capacity of build we must see in the coming years to meet growing demand.”
A pre-recorded address was also delivered by Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, Jack Chambers T.D., underlining the transformational ambition of the NDP Review 2025, which earmarks nearly €36 billion for housing, accounting for over one-third of all exchequer capital funding to 2030. He stressed that increased investment alone is not enough, comprehensive system reform and radical overhaul is crucial to delivery.
To frame the panel discussions, conference chair Fidelma McManus, Partner & Head of Housing at Beauchamps, was joined by Deloitte's Chief Economist, Kate English, who shared exclusive research insights and analysed key economic trends shaping Ireland's housing market.
McManus then chaired two panel discussions tackling the most urgent questions facing the sector today. The first panel, From Policy to Progress - Making Viability Central to Delivery, featured Stephen Garvey (CEO, Glenveagh), Aoife Watters (CEO, Respond), Martin Whelan (CEO, The Housing Agency) and Pat Farrell (CEO, Irish Institutional Property), examined recent policies and how to overcome economic and policy barriers to delivery.
Despite recent policies aimed at tackling viability, challenges remain, demanding urgent and sustained action. There was strong consensus that regaining momentum hinges on bringing policy and funding certainty to the AHB sector. A twin track, 'whole of government' approach is essential to focus on immediate delivery as well as long term pipeline.
A second panel examined How Transformative is the National Development Plan Review 2025? focused on how the revised NDP can become a true delivery enabler. The panel comprised of John Coleman (CEO, The Land Development Agency), Angela Ryan (Senior Manager in the Asset Management & Sustainability Directorate, Uisce Éireann), Brian Tapley (Head of Customer & Project Delivery, South, ESB Networks) and Paul Sheridan (Director, Main Contracting, Construction Industry Federation).
Speakers emphasised the need for a clear and detailed understanding of how the revised National Development Plan (NDP) will be implemented. Key discussion points focussed on multi-annual funding requirements, constraints around prioritisation, emergency planning legislation and capacity challenges. The government's genuine policy shift, aimed at reducing delays and controlling costs, was also acknowledged as a critical step forward.
Closing the event, Fidelma McManus stated: “We’ve moved beyond simply identifying the challenges. This year, the focus is firmly on implementing recent policies, addressing viability, restoring certainty and stability and rebuilding momentum to accelerate current delivery and establish a robust pipeline for the next decade.”
Pictured (l-r): Stephen Garvey, CEO, Glenveagh; Brian Tapley, Head of Customer & Project Delivery, South, ESB Networks; Martin Whelan, CEO, The Housing Agency; Kate English, Chief Economist, Deloitte Ireland; John White, Managing Partner, Beauchamps; Conference Chair Fidelma McManus, Partner & Head of Housing, Beauchamps; Angela Ryan, Senior Manager in the Asset Management & Sustainability Directorate, Uisce Éireann; Paul Sheridan, Director, Main Contracting, Construction Industry Federation; Pat Farrell, CEO, Irish Institutional Property and Aoife Watters, CEO, Respond.
For further information, please contact:
Fidelma McManus - Partner & Head of Housing
Beauchamps
DD: +353 (0)1 418 0625
E: f.mcmanus@beauchamps.ie
Sinead O'Donohoe – Marketing & Communications Manager
Beauchamps
M: +353 (0) 87 258 5987
E: s.odonohoe@beaucamps.ie