Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising this important matter and I see her genuine personal interest in it. it is very much in her local community.

The annual summary of social housing assessments also provides valuable data as it counts the numbers of persons aged over 60 and 70, which the Senator referred to, who have been assessed as eligible for social housing supports. The summary further classifies those persons in these age groups who are over 65 and require specialist older persons’ housing. The new census and national planning framework, which we are revising and updating, provide a context in which we will review the HNDA. We have to have an integrated model. It may be that people want to live in their homes. It may be, in terms of local authorities, a matter of rightsizing, which we want to encourage so people can move to a smaller house. We are committed to housing adaptation grants. We have a review under way. People are now living longer, thankfully, so we have to ensure they live in circumstances where they have a good quality of life.