Mr. Seán Moynihan:

The Senator asked what policies we would like to see. Housing and support go together for older people in many cases. We need housing with on-site support. We would like to see within health and housing policy, and the Housing for All plan, a demonstrator site that involves building 24-7 on-site support. In Ireland, one either ages at home or in a nursing home. In the middle of those two options is housing with on-site support as a positive choice when people may be facing other reasons they cannot age at home. At the moment, the policies of both Departments mean it is hard to get a funding model. The Senator asked about housing. The policy we would most like to see is a commitment to housing with support under that joint policy statement and a funding model for it. Whether the answer is accommodation provided by the Sue Ryder Foundation and a loan, private suppliers or another approved housing body, we must ensure there is an ability to build housing with on-site support as an alternative to nursing homes for those who cannot stay in their current location.