Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I agree with the Deputy and I have pushed this point both with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the Minister and other colleagues. Cork Corporation introduced a very good scheme two to three years ago and won a national award where it facilitated and incentivised downsizing for people who bought their houses from the corporation many years earlier. Time had moved on and in a deal with the corporation, a substantial number of residents downsized to apartments that are now provided by the corporation but the houses were released back into corporation stock for reletting.

There is enormous potential for voluntary downsizing and it should be incentivised across the board where people could voluntarily enter into agreements that would not disadvantage them if they engaged in a downsizing experience or initiative. The Deputy has summed up the issue. There needs to be a comprehensive approach to ensuring that there is a clear pathway that would facilitate people to downsize because it would free up spare housing stock that is not currently being utilised.

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