Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy raised this issue earlier this week or last week and it is a very pertinent point. The crucial issue with right-sizing is providing choice for people so that they do not feel that they must leave their family home. I know that is not what the Deputy is advocating. It is about choice. We do have schemes running through local authorities. Earlier this week Deputy Bruton referenced Dublin City Council and South Dublin County Council is also doing work in this area, but not enough. We have included that in our planning, particularly around the provision of more one- and two-bedroom homes, which we are seeing throughout the country. The Minister of State, Deputy Butler, is funding, through her Department, age-friendly officers in each of our local authorities. We certainly want to see how we can accelerate that choice. Certainly, that choice will improve as supply continues to improve and as we are designing estates and developments for communities. We need three-bedroom semi-detached houses, good terraced houses and a good mix of homes. I see that in my own area of Dublin Fingal but it is something we need to continue to focus on to accelerate its delivery.

See this speech in context