Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank all the witnesses.

We have read the submissions that were submitted in advance of the meeting, which were helpful. We are focusing in particular on supporting and responding to the complex housing needs of older citizens. We are all going in that direction. I am not there quite yet but I am always looking around for places I particularly like. That tees me up to talk about the Sue Ryder Foundation. I am familiar with its facility in County Laois and I know there are other such facilities in counties Tipperary and Carlow. I am particularly familiar with the facility in Dalkey, which is, to say the least, a fantastic site. It is a brilliant place for anyone to live. It is by the coast. Its site is what makes it so special. The siting of these locations is very important because they are, effectively, sheltered villages. Dalkey is a particularly nice place, as our guests know. It is served by many restaurants and pubs, a library, doctors and two or three churches. It has everything, including public transport. People do not need a car to live there, even if they are not living in sheltered accommodation. The Sue Ryder Foundation facility in Dalkey is a community within a community. It is double-wrapped in community. Mr. Reid will know that many people seek to go to that facility.

Someone spoke earlier about ageing in place. Ageing in place does not necessarily means ageing in the same building and the same fabric. People like to age in the same community. That is a subtle difference and sometimes we lose sight of that. Many people in their 60s, who are not very old, find that their children have moved on and their circumstances have changed. They realise they have a lot of capital tied up in bricks and mortar and could have a better quality of life by releasing some of that equity.

The Sue Ryder Foundation model is wonderful. However, having said that, I am aware of some difficulties that do not specifically apply to the facility in Dalkey. I want to be clear about that. Mr. Reid or another of our guests might tell us the costs involved. This is not a cheap housing option. I am not saying that all housing should be cheap but it is quite an expensive option for some people. I would like to hear more detail on the way that is costed. I would also like to know more about how people are selected for this support housing, because that is what it is. Meals, laundry, cleaning services, maintenance, gardening and interactive activities are provided. There is a cost to that. Clearly when there is cost and demand, there needs to be a mechanism for prioritisation. Those who are most in need should be prioritised and not the people with the biggest wallet, purse or mouth. I do not say that disrespectfully. I want to be clear about the people who have the most important need. I would have thought that people who have no homes are more important than people who may be leaving a home to move to another home. That is not a luxury we all have. I understand that people do not want to live in isolation and do not want to be lonely. Many of the people elderly people know may be gone.

I am interested in the bigger picture of the policy and how we are going to proceed as a committee. What do our guests say about all of that? What do they recommend? Bearing in mind our time constraints, perhaps each of our guests would give us a strong line about what they would like us to do in terms of policy.