Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 May 2024
111. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has reviewed the impact of the 2019 work between his Department and the Department of Health on planning accommodation for an ageing population; and his views on whether there is a need to develop new policy tools to drive the elements of that strategy. [24418/24]
View answerUnder Housing for All, there is a policy objective to increase and improve housing options for older people to facilitate ageing in place with dignity and independence. Housing for All builds on and takes forward the ongoing actions in 'Housing Options for Our Ageing Population' policy statement from 2019, published jointly by my Department and the Department of Health, which provides policy options in support of a range of housing and accommodation alternatives for older people.
The actions include the development of a catalogue of housing options that provide a range of choices that meet the diverse needs of an ageing population, spanning owner occupier, private rental and social housing, whilst providing accessible care and the associated support needs. My Department, together with the local authorities and the Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), is successfully guiding and delivering age-friendly housing within this framework.
An implementation group, led by an independent Chair and representative of the two Departments and their agencies as well as older persons was established to oversee and manage the implementation of Housing Options of Our Ageing Population Policy Statement. The Implementation Group published three reports detailing the progress achieved on each of the Actions and these are available at
gov - Housing Options for Our Ageing Population – Policy Statement (www.gov.ie)www.gov.ie/en/publication/83781d-housing-options-for-our-ageing-population-policy-statement/.
My Department continues to collaborate with the Department of Health on the implementation of relevant ongoing actions, together with engagement on advancing the most appropriate framework, under the strategic framework of Housing for All, to ensure the effective integration of health and housing policies at national and local level.
