THE Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland (RIAI) and the Irish Planning Institute (IPI) will jointly host a conference on the housing crisis, entitled "Stopping the Sprawl". The event will take place on November 4th in the RDS Simmonscourt, Dublin and is open to all including public representatives, policy makers, public officials, developers, contractors, architects, planners, auctioneers and estate agents and academics. Eoin O'Cofaigh, RIAI President, said that the housing crisis is now recognised as a major economic, social and environmental problem and one of the primary factors causing current industrial unrest.
"However, our efforts to solve this problem could create a host of other difficulties if we, as a society, are not careful. The Irish housing industry has experienced unprecedented growth in recent years and it is predicted that up to a quarter of a million homes will be required in the next five years. Unfortunately, the current patterns of housing development are creating unsustainable communities; the transport and infrastructure cannot be developed to support further expansion in towns and cities. New solutions must be developed and the purpose of this conference is to examine such solutions," said Mr O'Cofaigh.
Speakers will include the Minister for Housing and Urban Renewal, Mr Bobby Molloy; Colm McCarthy of DKM Economic Consultants; Dr Patrick Clarke, Technical Director, Llewelyn-Davies; David O'Connor, Fingal County Architect; David Taylor, Alan Baxter and Associates; Ciaran Ryan, head of housing, CIF; and Michael O'Driscoll, director of Manor Park Homes.
