Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 July 2023
241. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the supports that are in place for older working people unable to secure a mortgage but unable to afford to remain in privately rented accommodation once they retire; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33035/23]
View answer246. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide on update on the Programme for Government commitment to increase the provision of smaller homes in developments, ensuring that older people can remain living in their communities, close to essential services and facilities since the establishment of the current Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33321/23]
View answer247. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide on update on the Programme for Government commitment to embed ageing in place options for older people into the planning system since the establishment of the current Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33329/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 241, 246 and 247 together.
Government policy in relation to housing for older people, as set out in Housing for All: A New Housing Plan for Ireland, is to support people to live with dignity and independence in their own homes and communities for as long as possible, to allow them to ‘age in place’ close to their families, friends and in their community.
Pathway 2 of Housing for All commits to expanding the housing options available for Older Persons, building on the work done under the 2019 Joint Policy Statement, Housing Options for our Ageing Population, which has the objective of providing housing options for older people to facilitate ageing in place, in their own homes and communities, with dignity and independence, and deliver an appropriate range of housing and related support services, in an integrated and sustainable manner. Local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies are encouraged to bring forward social homes specifically designed for older people in their area and my Department funds this principally through the Capital Assistance Scheme.
Arising from an action in Housing Options for our Ageing Population and in conjunction with Ordinance Survey Ireland, my Department has developed a Geographical Information System (GIS) Mapping Decision Support Tool to support the development of housing specifically for older people on the best available sites appropriate to their needs and close to essential services. This Tool and relevant training has been made available to local authorities in Q2 2023.
Planning for future development for all categories, including older people, is carried out through the Housing Need and Demand Assessment (HNDA) being undertaken in each local authority area (as development plans come up for statutory review) to ensure that the long-term strategic housing needs are met. The HDNA framework allows local authorities to correlate and accurately align overall future housing requirements based on the needs identified in an evidence-based targeted and responsive way. The framework will be reviewed in 2024 to take account of the results from Census 2022.
Where an older person is renting in the private sector, they may qualify for social housing supports or rent supplement when they reach retirement. Where older persons are above the income thresholds for social housing, they are protected, as are all private renters, by RPZs which limit rent increases and the improvements this government has already made regarding security of tenure. They may also qualify for cost rental housing and this government is working on scaling up the supply of cost rental homes to meet the needs of those who are experiencing affordability challenges in the private rental sector.
