Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 February 2026
772. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he would consider introducing measures to assist people to downsize, in particular older people who have 3/4 bedroom houses and are unable to afford the maintenance and upkeep of a larger property;; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11751/26]
View answer773. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if consideration would be given to introducing measures to assist people to downsize, in view that many homeowners are unable to maintain larger homes and wish to downsize to smaller property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11752/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 772 and 773 together.
Government is committed to increasing housing choices available to older people to facilitate ageing in place with dignity and independence and to support rightsizing on a voluntary basis. The Government’s new housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities, 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 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.
