Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North-Central, Fianna Fail)
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97. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his plans to ensure greater downsizing options for persons in private housing who wish to downsize their home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65630/25]

Rory Hearne (Dublin North-West, Social Democrats)
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537. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his plans to introduce a national financial contribution scheme, based on the local authority model (details supplied), administered by local authorities, and funded by the Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65916/25]

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 97 and 537 together.

Government is committed to increasing housing available to older people to facilitate ageing in place with dignity and independence and to supporting rightsizing on a voluntary basis. The Government’s new housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030, includes measures which will increase delivery of housing for older people through increased delivery of social housing, increased delivery of more suitable homes in private housing and increased choice to support voluntary rightsizing.

The new Housing Plan will increase delivery of more suitable homes and choice for older people in private housing including through a review of the planning exemptions for those who wish to convert their homes into separate living spaces. The new Housing Plan will increase choice for older people to voluntarily rightsize through advancing consideration of the availability of bridging finance to support rightsizing, a review of the operation of existing local authority financial contribution schemes and supporting social housing tenants who wish to rightsize to more suitable accommodation.

My Department is advancing these measures now incorporated in the new housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030.