The Housing Agency: Research Support Programme

The Housing Agency’s role is to promote the supply of housing to meet current and future needs and demand. It does this by being a centre of expert knowledge on housing, supporting housing policy development and implementing effective housing programmes in collaboration with key stakeholders.

One of the Agency’s functions is to undertake and support independent research to support an evidence base to help inform housing policy development and good practice.

Research focus

The Research programme will achieve a balance between being aligned to the key strategic themes in the Agency’s Strategic Plan and topical issues that arise, particularly policy advice. It will strive to achieve a balance between proactive and reactive work. The Agency is particularly interested in research that has the potential to have an impact on improving people’s housing options and experiences, and successful projects will align with at least one of the following broad Priority Areas for Research:

The Housing Agency’s Strategic Plan (2019 - 2021) will focus on five inter-connecting themes:

• Being a centre of knowledge on housing
• Optimising supply and utilisation of houses
• Understanding housing demand and affordability
• Realising results through our people
• Meeting governance and service commitments.
  • The supply and efficient use of the housing stock
  • Understanding housing demand and affordability
  • Impact of housing on quality of life
  • Housing and people
  • Housing and sustainable communities

Nature of Support

The support the Agency provides to researchers may also be varied, from financial support to access to data in a user-friendly format.

Financial support is available for a range of research / research support activities. This can include but is not limited to: primary research involving fieldwork, secondary data analysis, literature reviews or research dissemination such as hosting a conference or seminar.

Financial support to any one research application is unlikely to exceed €25,000 including VAT if applicable. The Agency is open to joint funding of research projects with partnership organisations.

Application Process

Those wishing to apply for research funding or other support can do so by completing an application form (attached below). Applicants are advised to consult the guidance document (attached below). The guidance document sets out the terms and conditions of the funding.

The closing date for receipt of applications is 12 noon, 24 February 2020. Late applications will not be accepted.

Funding will be at the absolute discretion of the The Housing Agency, but an appeals mechanism will be introduced for unsuccessful applications. Appeals will be accepted, in writing only, within 14 days of the notification of the outcome of the competition.

For further information please contact: researchsupport@housingagency.ie

All documentation can be found on the The Housing Agency website: www.housingagency.ie