Mr. Gavin Reid:

I thank the Chairman for the opportunity.

The Sue Ryder Foundation is an AHB that has been in Ireland since 1979. What makes it slightly different from many AHBs is that it caters for the elderly with supports. We provide housing in our six schemes: Ballyroan, Kilminchy, Dalkey, Holycross, Carlow and Nenagh. Apart from housing, the key supports we offer include a four-course lunch with choice; a laundry service; the cleaning of apartments or bungalows; maintenance; social and recreational facilities, gardens, exercise rooms, TV rooms, libraries and oratories or prayer rooms; and staff on site to support our residents, coupled with an emergency response system.

Our experience is that people live longer and healthier lives as a result of the additional supports we provide. GP and hospital visits are reduced, loneliness and stress are removed, and people live in a safe and secure community. The challenges for this type of housing are not really recognised or understood in the State. Where we have schemes, our private lists illustrate a clear demand. For example, we have over 300 people on our private list in Dalkey. It rarely falls below that number. Our hope is for a greater focus on housing with supports for our elderly citizens, with a dedicated subclass in housing with adequate funding.