Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As the Minister will know, 90% of people aged 65 and over are living in accommodation in excess of their needs, much of which is very difficult to heat. I believe that initiatives to support right-sizing are crucial as our population grows older. Such initiatives release larger accommodation, which is badly needed, reduce our overall need for new building and have considerable social gains. Would the Minister consider measures that would create such an incentive, for example, disregarding capital release from all means tests, including for the fuel allowance and fair deal schemes and for medical cards, giving some capital acquisitions tax, CAT, concession to the nest egg that might be created by downsizing and otherwise promoting this as a desirable social policy?

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