Ms Caroline Timmons:

A review of those grants is ongoing. We can certainly examine that point. I would need to think about it more, but we can talk to our colleagues in the Department of Health and see where we go with that.

The Deputy mentioned the tenant purchase scheme. A positive amendment was made to that. We talked about the financial contribution scheme earlier, which is run by some local authorities. It enables people to downsize from a private house, which they sell to the local authority, and to move into social housing. There may be options in that regard for people who have bought under the tenant purchase scheme once they get permission to sell from the local authority. The Deputy's point on the urban-rural divide is well made and noted. I echo his points on Longford and Monaghan. Age Friendly Ireland is spreading out, with regional managers, and a person in each local authority who is key to developing awareness and progressing housing for older people. It has the healthy age initiative in Ireland. People go to check on others in their homes. We have more community involvement to ensure people are able to live where they wish to.