Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 October 2023
139. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he or the Government have plans to establish a distinct unit to operate together across both his Department and the Department of Health to provide for a joint plan to ensure the provision of age friendly independent and supported living environments, given the increasing aging population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44472/23]
View answerHousing for All (published in September 2021) provides a new housing plan for Ireland to 2030 with the overall objective that every citizen in the State should have access to good quality homes through a steady supply of housing in the right locations, with economic, social and environmental sustainability built into the system. The strategy sets out, over four pathways, a broad suite of measures to achieve its policy objectives together with a financial commitment of in excess of €4 billion per annum.
Under Housing for All, there is a policy objective to increase and improve housing options for older people to facilitate ageing in place with dignity and independence. Housing for All builds on and takes forward the ongoing actions in "Housing Options for Our Ageing Population" policy statement from 2019, published jointly by my Department and the Department of Health, which provides policy options in support of a range of housing and accommodation alternatives for older people. The actions include the development of a catalogue of housing options that provide a range of choices that meet the diverse needs of an ageing population, spanning owner occupier, private rental and social housing, whilst providing accessible care and the associated support needs. My Department, together with the local authorities and the Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), is successfully guiding and delivering age-friendly housing within this framework.
My Department established a new Business Unit in the latter part of 2021, namely, the Social Inclusion Unit, which includes having responsibility for housing policy for older people. This Unit liaises with key Departments such as the Department of Health in the development and delivery of housing policy for older people.
My Department continues to collaborate with the Department of Health on the implementation of relevant ongoing actions, together with engagement on advancing the most appropriate framework, under the strategic framework of Housing for All, to ensure the effective integration of health and housing policies at national and local level.
