Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 February 2018
618. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of the framework document on housing for older persons currently being developed by his Department; the number of officials working on this paper; the number of times this working group has met; the third party stakeholders consulted by the group as part of its work; and when the framework document will be completed and published. [5589/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraGovernment policy, as expressed in the Programme for Partnership Government and Rebuilding Ireland, is to support older people to live in their own home with dignity and independence, for as long as possible.
In this context, the preparation of a policy statement on housing for older people is at an advanced stage. This policy statement is being progressed by the Department of Health and my own Department and I expect it will be ready to issue as a joint statement shortly.
A cross Department and agency steering group of key stakeholders was established in 2017 to provide guidance in developing the policy statement. It was chaired by a senior official in my Department and comprised representatives from my Department, the Department of Health, the Department of Rural and Community Development, the Health Service Executive, the Housing Agency, the Irish Council for Social Housing, the centre of excellence in universal design at the National Disability Authority and the National Age Friendly Ireland programme manager. The group met formally on three occasions to discuss and review progress and in addition there has been on-going engagement and separate meetings between my officials, Department of Health officials and other stakeholders.
This policy statement will be a first step in the broader process of seeking to ensure that older people are provided with appropriate accommodation options suited to their needs. It will set out a framework by which the Government can encourage and facilitate housing, including supported housing/housing with care, for older people having regard to current demographics and looking at best practice models, including where appropriate, suitable integration with relevant health and social care services.
