David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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I thank the witnesses for their presentation and am sorry that I missed it but I was in the Chamber dealing with another matter. A few things came up here. I am interested in the private retirement communities mentioned in the witnesses' publication. A whole list of step-down models was also mentioned in that regard. My impression is that we do not have a huge take-up on the retirement communities in Ireland as I only am aware of a very small number. Will the witnesses comment a little on why this is the case and why businesses are not building these communities? I would have thought there would be a demand for them, given that many people are living in very large houses with great value. By selling those homes and using the equity to purchase or lease a place in a private retirement community, they would be better off in many ways. I know of two or three of them in the country that are doing well but apart from that, there does not appear to be much take-up at all.