A top housing official will step down from his position early amid ongoing pressure on the Government to deliver on housing.
Bob Jordan, chief executive of The Housing Agency, will leave the position in September in what will be seen as a blow to the Coalition’s housing delivery plan. The Department of Housing was advised of his decision last week.
Mr Jordan, a former chief executive of the Threshold housing charity and a one-time political adviser to then minister for housing Simon Coveney, was appointed to head up the agency in 2021.
The Housing Agency’s remit is to work with the department, local authorities and sectoral bodies on the delivery of housing. It supports housing supply and policy development. It also has a role putting into operation Government schemes such as the pyrite remediation scheme and the mortgage-to-rent programme. It is also operating an interim remediation scheme for defective apartments.
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It is understood that Mr Jordan had a five-year deal in place and is stepping down early to pursue other opportunities.
Sources familiar with Mr Jordan’s thinking said his decision to leave was not him acting out of frustration, but rather was influenced by the timing of the political cycle, with a general election in the coming months, and the completion of a three year strategy at the agency.
In a statement confirming Mr Jordan’s departure, the chair of the Housing Agency’s board, Michael Carey said: “Bob Jordan has made an enormous contribution to Ireland’s housing sector over the past 20 years, in both his work with The Housing Agency and in previous roles in the public and charity sectors... We thank him for his excellent leadership over the past three years and wish him the very best now as he moves on from this role.”
Mr Carey said a recruitment process will now begin to identify Mr Jordan’s successor.
Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien said: “Bob has been an invaluable player in our work to implement Housing for All and provided strong leadership and direction for the Housing Agency over the last three years. With his extensive experience in housing over the last two decades, Bob always brought a wealth of knowledge and sound judgment to the table and, for me, was a very important partner in providing solutions to Ireland’s housing challenges.
“I would like to thank Bob for his dedication and significant contribution and to wish him all the best in the next chapter of his career.”
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