Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 April 2024
54. 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; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15673/24]
View answerHousing 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. My Department provides capital funding to local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies to support the delivery of social homes specifically designed for older people in their area.
Arising from an action in Housing Options for our Ageing Population and in conjunction with Ordinance Survey Ireland, my Department 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 is now in use by local authorities to decide on the best sites to develop housing for older people.
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.
The National Planning Framework (NPF) supports continued progress of supporting our citizens basic human rights and assists in helping people to gain access to a better quality of life. In particular, National Policy Objective 30, sets out a clear purpose for policies to be developed to enhance the lives and needs of our ageing population life for all citizens, through improved integration and greater accessibility in the delivery of sustainable communities and the provision of associated services.
My Department recently issued Section 28 guidelines for Planning Authorities on Sustainable Residential Development and Compact Settlements (SRDCSGs). These Guidelines set national planning policy and guidance in relation to the planning and development of urban and rural settlements, with a focus on residential development.
The SRDSGs seek to ensure that new communities are designed to enhance accessibility to services, community facilities and amenities, optimise mobility for vulnerable users (with reference to the principles of Universal Design) and provide greater housing choice with a focus on the delivery of innovative housing types that can facilitate compact growth and provide greater housing choice that respond to the needs of single people, families, older people and people with disabilities, informed by a Housing Need and Demand Assessment, where possible.
