I propose to take Questions Nos. 207, 216 to 219, inclusive, and 223 together.
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. My Department, together with the local authorities and the Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), is successfully guiding and delivering age-friendly housing within this framework.
In the case of specific types of developments, the initiation, design, planning, development and management of housing projects is a matter for local authorities in exercise of their statutory functions. A key action of Housing for All required local authorities to develop Housing Delivery Action Plans to include details of social and affordable housing delivery, including specific plans for housing for the delivery of housing for older people. The Plans set out details of both social and affordable housing delivery as appropriate over the period 2022-2026, in line with targets set under Housing for All. The Plans also include details of the locations and delivery streams for social housing schemes and to make adequate provision for 1, 2, 3 and 4 bedroom homes. Housing Delivery Action Plans are published on the websites of the respective local authorities.
Additionally, in relation to age related, tenure specific research, each local authority carries out an assessment of the housing need in their administrative area under the Housing Need and Demand Assessment (HNDA) framework. The purpose of the HNDA is to ensure long-term strategic housing needs are met across all tenures, providing a robust evidence base to support decisions about new housing supply, investment, and housing-related services. The housing needs of specialised groups, such as disabled people and older people are included in the assessment.
The HNDA uses a standardised methodology to quantify current and projected housing needs in a particular local authority area and is the central evidence base used to inform Housing Strategy preparation, which will in turn inform the housing policies of the county or city development plan.
In November 2023, the Government published its Housing for All Action Plan Update, which outlines Government’s approach to reviewing and refreshing the current targets and projections. The HNDA framework and Housing for All housing targets will be reviewed as part of this work, with the revision to be completed in 2024, providing refreshed targets for the period 2025 onwards. This work will be informed by independent, peer-reviewed research by the ESRI, an update to the ESRI’s previous research, to support the National Planning Framework revision and any change to the housing targets and their spatial distribution. The refresh of targets will take into account unmet need in previous years, population growth, including from significant inward migration in recent years, and updated assumptions regarding household sizes. The ESRI work will be finished in Q1 2024, with provisional housing targets developed and published shortly thereafter.
Final housing targets for the period 2025 onwards, including revised targets for social, affordable, private rental and private ownership, will be published in mid-2024.
Local authorities are required to make allocation schemes under Section 22 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and associated Social Housing Allocation Regulations 2011. As Minister, I have no function in relation thereto.
The Allocation Scheme specifies, among other things, the manner of, and the order of priority for, the allocation of dwellings to households on the housing and transfer lists. Local authorities are free to reserve a percentage of housing for an eligible group of householders if they decide to do so in accordance with their scheme.
Where an older person is renting in the private sector, they may qualify for social housing supports or rent supplement. In addition, 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 a number of funding mechanisms including the Capital Assistance Scheme which prioritises the housing needs of vulnerable groups including older people.
Where older persons are above the income thresholds for social housing, they are protected, as are all private renters, by Rent Pressure Zones which limit rent increases 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.
The Housing for All Action Plan Update in November 2022 included an action to review the operation of the private rental sector and report on policy. My Department has commenced this review which will take into account the significant regulatory changes over the past several years and the Government will consider and act on its recommendations. The review will draw conclusions on how our housing system could provide an efficient, viable, affordable, safe and secure framework for both landlords and tenants and will be finalised as early as possible.
