Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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13. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his plans for increasing the housing options available to older people to facilitate ageing in place with dignity and independence; if he will provide an update on the development of a policy on rightsizing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24643/25]

Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Will the Minister outline his plans for increasing number of housing options available to older people to facilitate ageing in place with dignity and independence? Will he also provide an update on the development of a policy on rightsizing?

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Cahill for raising this important matter. The Programme for Government - Securing Ireland’s Future includes several commitments to deliver practical housing for positive ageing. These commitments build upon the policy objectives in Housing for All that commit to increasing the housing options available to older people to facilitate ageing in place with dignity and independence.

The commitments in the programme for Government include: mandating local authorities to find suitable sites for housing specifically designed for older adults, ensuring accessible options within local communities; making it easier to convert houses into separate living spaces to allow older adults to continue living in familiar surroundings while adapting to changing needs; supporting AHBs in developing and managing senior housing with on-site support services, thereby fostering safe and supportive communities; and reviewing and standardising the older persons housing financial contribution scheme. Work on these commitments by a policy group I recently established to explore proposals on how best to progress these commitments is ongoing. Crucially, consideration of these proposals will feed into the development of the new housing plan that is currently being progressed in my Department. Advancement of a broader policy approach on rightsizing - as committed to in Housing for All - is also being considered as part of this process to deliver on the commitments made in the programme for Government.

We are looking at aspects like bridging finance, but, ultimately, it is all about choice for older people. That is the fundamental basis of my policy around providing options for older people.

Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State for that. Rightsizing generally means moving home in later life into housing that is more suitable. It is more usually known as downsizing. It can also mean adapting your home to make it more age appropriate or considering other housing options. The Housing for All plan sets out that the current and projected need for housing among our older people should be made through clear, target-driven local authority delivery action plans and housing strategies. Can the Minister of State indicate what engagement he has had with local authorities in this regard and whether he is satisfied that they are taking it seriously? Are there any good examples that could be used on a nationwide basis?

Housing for All also pledged additional actions, including guiding and informing enhanced design and construction of age-friendly, universally designed homes and reviewing existing grant programmes to assist older people to live independently. Will the Minister of State provide an update on that? How are local authorities ensuring that the voice of the older person is at the centre of any decision to rightsize and that their choice on where and who they wish to live with must take precedence?

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Cahill. He has covered many of the matters I wish to cover in the context of housing choice for older persons.

On inclusion, we have older persons councils - through Age-Friendly Ireland - which very much engage with the local authorities. I am involving all older person representative organisations in the work I am doing in the context of the policy group on stakeholder engagement. We held a stakeholders engagement last week that was very productive.

Regarding policy initiatives, we revised the housing adaptation plans. More recently, these have been expanded. There are areas we still need to look at, however. We have increased the level of the grants and the thresholds relating to people's income.

The Deputy referred to examples. There are many examples. Through the local authority delivery action plans, I want there to be more of a focus on the delivery of housing for older people and on the choices available to individual local authorities.

Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I have come across senior citizens from Glencairn, Callanafersy, Keel and Castlemaine who wish to move to Killorglin town. They wish to be near the local shop, the post office, the church and the doctor. I have cases where senior citizens in Rathmore and Barraduff wish to move to Killarney town for the very same reasons. I have come across cases of senior citizens from Lispole, Anascaul and Ballyferriter who wish to move to Dingle town. I have also come across cases of individuals in Templenoe and Sneem who wish to move to Kenmare town. This is hugely important. There will be a big take-up if a scheme is made available. I have come across many cases and have made Kerry County Council aware of them. Will consideration be given to doing away with the means testing of older people's grants, disabled persons grants and mobility aids grants?

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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Taking the last point first, we have increased the grant amounts and income exemptions considerably. For instance, if someone has an income of below €40,000, they get 100% of the grant, the disabled persons grant and the housing adaptation grant, which was previously 95%. Furthermore, we have increased the level of the grants. We are always seeking to ensure that what is on offer meets the needs of people.

The Deputy referred to Kerry. What is happening there can be replicated anywhere else in the country in terms of the desire that exists. It is about choice.

What we want to do under the programme for Government is to mandate local authorities to find suitable sites in areas - towns and villages - to give that choice in terms of public housing to allow people who wish to right-size to do so. I am taking a holistic approach. Local authorities are involved through the CCMA with me and the Department officials in terms of working with the policy group. Ultimately, the key focus is to get a more focused policy around housing choices for older people into a new housing plan in all of its elements.