North/South Forum for Sustainable Communities

Opening Workshop
2 – 3 February 2006
Armagh City Hotel

The Centre for Cross Border Studies came together with the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and the International Centre for Local and Regional Development to set up the North/South Forum for Sustainable Communities. The Forum will bring together policy makers concerned with the housing and related community needs of people in Ireland and Northern Ireland to discuss matters of common interest and to share best practice.

The first workshop of the Forum for Sustainable Communities took place on 2 – 3 February 2006 in the Armagh City Hotel. Around 30 senior policy makers, practitioners and researchers in government departments, housing organisations, local authorities, universities and other interested bodies were invited to discuss a range of issues ranging from homelessness and affordable housing to urban regeneration and the housing market in the border region.

This workshop is being funded by the EU INTERREG IIIA programme.

PROGRAMME

THURSDAY 2 FEBRUARY

Chair: Mr Des Geraghty, Chairman, Affordable Homes Partnership, Dublin

5 pm
Opening remarks by Mr Des Geraghty

5.10
Opening remarks by Mr Paddy McIntyre, Chief Executive, NI Housing Executive

5.20
Mr John O’Connor, Chief Executive, Affordable Homes Partnership, on issues of sustainable community in the Republic of Ireland

5.35
Mr Joe Frey, Head of Research, NI Housing Executive, on issues of sustainable community in Northern Ireland

5.50
The European Programmes Context: Mr Shaun Henry, Director of Programmes, Special EU Programmes Body

6.05
Questions and Discussion

6.30
Break

7.30
Reception

8.00
Dinner. Speaker: Mr David Crothers, Director of Housing, NI Department of Social Development

FRIDAY 3 FEBRUARY

Chair: Mr Brian Rowntree, Chairman, NI Housing Executive

9.15am
Mr Geraghty’s reflections on the first day

9.30
Prof Chris Paris and Mr Paddy Gray (University of Ulster) and Dr Jenny Muir (University of Glasgow) speak on their Issues Paper, followed by questions

10.30
Refreshments

11.00
Break-out sessions (three with 12-14 people in each)

• Urban regeneration; social and affordable housing; the integration of social and private housing
• Rural depopulation and regeneration; planning to bring home and work closer; the housing market in the border region
• Homelessness; needs of migrant workers and travellers

[Cross-cutting theme: capacity building, training and joint recognition of qualifications for housing and related service providers]

12.00
Report back and discussion of Forum for Sustainable Communities’ future work programme

1.10
Closing remarks: Dr Chris Gibson, Chairman, Centre for Cross Border Studies

1.15
Lunch

See the  issues paper [308 kb].