This Governance Charter outlines core governance principles, including accountability, transparency, integrity, strategic oversight, and a commitment to delivering high-quality housing services. These principles can be used to guide and support board members as they carry out their key roles and functions.
The Board of an AHB holds ultimate responsibility for the organisation’s governance, providing oversight and setting its strategic direction. Board members are tasked with ensuring that the organisation remains aligned with its mission and operates in compliance with legal, regulatory, and ethical standards. This includes approving strategic plans, monitoring performance, managing risk, and safeguarding the organisation’s financial and operational integrity.
The Irish Council for Social Housing (‘ICSH’) commissioned and designed this Governance Charter to support board members and senior management teams to fulfil their roles effectively and to give them support through a specific housing tailored code that responds to the current sectoral environment. This Governance Charter sets out the principles, responsibilities, and standards of conduct that guide the governance of housing associations in Ireland. It provides signposting to a framework for effective oversight, accountability, and strategic leadership to ensure that housing associations operate in the best interests of their tenants, stakeholders, and the wider community.