Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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74. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will include an assessment of outgoings to be taken into account when calculating a tenant’s rent contribution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18526/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Section 58 of the Housing Act provides for the setting and collection of social housing rents by local authorities.

The making or amending of such rents schemes, including how the rent charged is calculated and any increases or decreases that may be appropriate, is a matter for local authorities. That said, rent schemes should be consistent with the broad principles set out by my Department, including that rent levels should be based on income and reflect tenants’ ability to pay.

In this regard, local authorities have arrangements in place to protect tenants who, for example, experience reductions in income or incur exceptional or unavoidable outgoings that affect their ability to pay. Tenants may seek a review of the rent payable from their respective local authorities in such circumstances.

Similarly, local authority rent schemes also contain hardship clauses. These clauses provide for the payment of lesser amounts for specified periods of time where the local authority considers the payment of the rent due would give rise to hardship for the tenant.

Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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75. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will introduce incentives to encourage the building of homes for older persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18544/22]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Housing for All (published in September 2021) provides a new housing plan for Ireland to 2030 with the overall objective that every citizen in the State should have access to good quality homes through a steady supply of housing in the right locations, with economic, social and environmental sustainability built into the system.

The strategy commits to increasing the housing options available to older people to facilitate ageing in place with dignity and independence, including policies on rightsizing for older people. Work is underway through my Department to inform and progress the development of national policy on rightsizing this year.

Additionally, the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability Scheme facilitates older people and people with a disability to remain living independently in their own homes. Older people in private housing who want to remain living in their existing dwelling can avail of the Housing Adaptation Grant Scheme for People with a Disability and Older People, the Mobility Aids Grants Scheme and the Housing Aid for Older People Scheme to make adaptations and improvements to their homes to enable them to go on living there safely and in comfort.

Housing for All commits to undertaking a review of these housing grants, which is currently underway to ensure the income thresholds and grant levels are updated and that the works being funded are appropriate and the target market being met. The full review will be completed this year.