John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)

I apologise on behalf of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Phil Hogan, who is on Government business and I am taking this Adjournment matter on his behalf.

I thank the Senator for raising the issue. There is no specific national scheme in place to assist elderly people who wish to downsize their living accommodation by selling their house to their housing authority and arranging for their housing authority to provide them with alternative accommodation which is suitable to their needs.

The matter is dealt with under each housing authority's letting priorities and allocations scheme. Under section 22 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, housing authorities are required to make an allocations scheme in accordance with the Act. It is a matter for housing authorities to determine the priority to be given in the allocation of dwellings to households assessed as being qualified for social housing support. An allocation scheme is solely a matter for the housing authority concerned to make and implement, as it is a reserved function of the housing authority.

A number of housing authorities operate some form of downsizing scheme within their schemes of letting priorities. These schemes may take the form of "empty nest" or "sheltered housing" schemes and allow older people to sell their houses to housing authorities in return for access to social accommodation, usually in the form of old persons dwellings or sheltered housing, often to enable older persons to live close together in a common community. These schemes involve some level of financial contribution from the sale of the house to be provided to the housing authority in return for the provision of social accommodation, and the provision of accommodation is often in conjunction with voluntary housing bodies.

It is also open to a housing authority to allocate housing from its general housing stock if appropriate units are available which would suit older persons downsizing, whether they are existing social tenants or new applicants. It is entirely a matter for housing authorities, independent of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, to allocate housing based on the needs of each applicant.

Downsizing schemes exist for a number of reasons. First, the accommodation may be too large to maintain if family members have moved out, or may be unfit for the needs of the owner occupier. Where the original house is sold to the housing authority and alternative housing is provided, the responsibility for maintenance rests with the housing authority. The financial circumstances of older persons may be taken into account as they may be unable to afford the maintenance and upkeep of existing accommodation.

Second, units are often specifically designed for older people, with fewer stairs and other adaptations for easier living. A number of such schemes operated by housing authorities take into consideration medical, compassionate or similar grounds. Third, in the case of older people living in a community with similar requirements, such schemes can provide independence and dignity for older persons, as well as encouraging a sense of community and companionship, in a safe, private and caring setting.

We are committed to supporting the issue of accommodation provision for older persons. Obviously the capacity to do so will be subject to the level of resources available to the housing authority. The Government's vision for the future of the housing sector in Ireland as delivered through the housing policy statement of June 2011 is based on choice, fairness, equity across tenures and on delivering quality outcomes and value for money for the resources invested. The overall strategic objective remains "to enable all households access good quality housing appropriate to household circumstances and in their particular community of choice".