Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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749. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will provide an update on plans to introduce a right-sizing policy, if this will include local authority tenants. [29070/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The Programme for Government – Securing Ireland’s Future includes a number of commitments to deliver “Practical Housing Options for Positive Ageing”. These commitments build upon the policy objectives in Housing for All, which commit to increasing the housing available to older people to facilitate ageing in place with dignity and independence. Work is ongoing within a Policy Group recently established to explore proposals on how best to progress the Programme for Government commitments for older people. This work 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, including local authority tenants, as committed to under Housing for All is being considered as part of this process to deliver on the commitments made in the Programme for Government.

For older people currently living in local authority housing, rightsizing is facilitated through the social housing transfer process, where older people may transfer from one local authority dwelling to another on the basis of their current dwelling being too large for their needs. Housing supports and the oversight and practical management of housing waiting lists, including the application for and allocation of tenancies and transfers, is solely a matter for the relevant local authority in accordance with the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, and associated regulations.

Jen Cummins (Dublin South Central, Social Democrats)
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750. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the reason people who are applying for cost rental are not required to disclose their profession; if his Department has committed to ring-fencing cost rental for teachers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29082/25]

Jen Cummins (Dublin South Central, Social Democrats)
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751. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his plans to ring-fence cost rental properties for teachers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29083/25]

Conor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)
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861. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government further to the Programme for Government Commitment to earmark certain cost rental units for key local workers to outline the progress that has been made on this to date; to define a key local worker; the key local workers that will qualify; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30628/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 750, 751 and 861 together.

The Government is acutely aware of the housing challenges faced by many sectors of society. Housing for All, Ireland's housing plan to 2030, contains a suite of actions that have increased, and will continue to increase, the provision of housing through accelerating supply and increasing the affordability of homes.

My Department is currently exploring options for the targeting of Cost Rental homes for key local workers, as set out in the new Programme for Government, Securing Ireland's Future, published in January this year. This includes considering the opportunities to build on legislative changes brought in late last year as amendments to Affordable Housing Act 2021.

The Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024 included new provisions related to the Cost Rental sector aimed at improving access for certain cohorts, including those who may be categorised as key workers. The changes will mean friends and work colleagues can come together to share a Cost Rental home, increasing accessibility and affordability, and will also allow Cost Rental providers to prioritise homes for those with a link to an area though residence, employment, or children’s education. This will support people to live and work in their local area.

My Department is now developing the required legal and policy framework, including new secondary legislation, to provide for the implementation of these changes to Cost Rental.