Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 10 May 2022

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government

Housing Provision for Older People: Discussion

Mr. Seán Moynihan:

I think so. The reality is that there are things in that policy statement which go across two and three Departments, so it is not clear at which stage a Secretary General or assistant secretary general may not have the authority to cross a particular statutory line. The point is to provide housing and support. What is in those statements is that we need changes, some of which may require legislation or may need Government Departments to shift in their policy stances. Ultimately, it will have to go to the highest level. I would not be surprised if some of the actions within that policy statement are not implemented because they are stuck at a point at which there is a need to go higher, even for a statutory instrument, a change of law or because people do not have the authority to change the responsibilities of their Departments.