The Irish Council for Social Housing (ICSH) is the national representative federation for approved housing bodies (AHBs*) in Ireland. The ICSH Federation comprises a range of members with differing capacity, ambitions, and expertise; each playing their part in meeting housing need. ICSH members deliver housing locally and nationally, as well as providing services that support individuals’ capacity to enjoy their right to full participation in the areas of education, health, employment, social integration and inclusion, housing rights and the environment.
In 2023, the ICSH had 273 members providing housing and related services throughout the country, accommodating a diverse range of households. ICSH membership comprises a range of larger developing AHBs, a number that have been providing homes at scale, as well AHB members that are providing and managing a smaller number of homes in local communities, or regional areas. The ICSH is an inclusive housing federation representing and supporting a sector in meeting the growing and diverse range of social and affordable housing. The AHB sector has succeeded in delivering almost 6,000 homes and increasing our public housing stock to 61,500 social rented homes in ownership and management in 2023.
- families on a low income;
- older people;
- disabled people and;
- households experiencing homelessness.
ICSH members operate in every local authority area in the country and in hundreds of communities across Ireland.
Housing Association Activity in 2024
5,598 new homes were provided by our AHB members in the sector in 2024. For the past number of years, we have been increasing our stock of social and cost rental homes by about 10% annually. And we are very proud of the collective effort from our members – big and small – who are helping to build strong communities across the state underpinned by secure and affordable housing. 2024 was an impressive year for AHB affordable cost rental delivery in particular. More than 60% of total AHB cost rental output 2021-2024 was achieved in 2024 alone.
AHB Activity in 2024
- Overall Social Housing Output in 2024 (provided by both local authorities, housing associations/AHBs): 10,595. of which AHBs delivered 4,385 (41%).
- Overall cost rental delivery: 1,213 AHB cost rental homes were delivered in 2024. 784 were delivered by the Land Development Agency (LDA) and 30 by local authorities. There were also 120 Cost Rental Tenant in-Situ (CRTiS) Housing Agency purchases in 2024.
- Overall Social Housing Output in 2024 (provided by both local authorities, housing associations/AHBs): 10,595. of which AHBs delivered 4,385 (41%) through the build, acquisition and leasing programmes.
- 1,213 cost rental homes completed by AHBs in 2024. 60% of total AHB cost rental delivery 2021-2024.
- AHBs responsible for 41% of total social housing delivery and 56% of cost rental delivery in 2024.
- Overall cost rental delivery: 2,147. 1,213 AHB cost rental homes were delivered in 2024. 784 were delivered by the Land Development Agency (LDA) and 30 by local authorities. There were also 120 Cost Rental Tenant in-Situ (CRTiS) Housing Agency purchases in 2024.
- 50% of all AHB and local authority new build social housing was provided by AHBs.
- Almost 89% of AHB delivery in 2024 was new build housing.
- 50,507 approved housing body tenancies were registered with the RTB by the end of Q4 2024, providing tenancy security and dispute resolution processes for those tenants.
- 52% of AHB tenancies registered with the RTB are houses and 48% are apartments.
- 21 AHBs have Certified Body status from the Housing Finance Agency (HFA). In 2024, the HFA advanced €1.3 billion in loan finance to AHBs for the delivery of 4,525 homes in 21 counties.
- In Quarter 4 2024, 63 new Housing First tenancies commenced. A total of 814 tenancies have been established under the current National Implementation Plan (2022-2026) and 1,067 individuals are currently in a Housing First tenancy.
Accountability
ICSH is audited annually by an external firm and has an internal audit function. ICSH is a fully registered charity committed to the codes of best practice, both in terms of our obligation to our stakeholders and regulatory reporting.
Governance
We are governed by a voluntary Board of Trustees. Our Board does not receive a salary from ICSH. They give their time free of charge and have a range of experiences in corporate governance, which facilitate our regulatory filings to CORE , Charity Regulator (Governance Code) and Revenue.
Funding
Funding is received from DHLGH , HFA , POBAL the C&V Pillar and membership fees and funds are used to facilitate work, training, policy and regulatory requirements for our members and stakeholders.