Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 January 2026
656. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to ensure adequate funding is provided to Dublin City Council in order to allow it to continue operate its financial contribution scheme which is vital in allowing older people to downsize to DCC older person’s accommodation, while also increasing council housing stock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6215/26]
View answerGovernment 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.
Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030 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.
I understand that existing financial contribution schemes in place in some local authorities are non-statutory and therefore a matter for the individual local authorities, in this case Dublin City Council. Consideration will be given to the review of the operation of existing local authority financial contribution schemes and my Department is advancing these measures now incorporated in the new housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030.
