National policy on housing options will support older people in Stillorgan – Cllr. Eoin O’Driscoll

A new national policy on housing options for older people will ensure older people in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown have appropriate housing to suit their needs, said Fine Gael Councillor Eoin O’Driscoll.

Fine Gael Councillor O’Driscoll has welcomed news Minister for Older People Kieran O’Donnell has set up a working group in the Department of Housing to identify a list of actions to support increased delivery of housing for older people, including measures to support them to rightsize, where they wish to do so. It will complete its work by the end of next month.

Some areas the group will investigate will include:

• Flexibility on planning rules to allow for a home to be adapted or extended to include a separate self-contained kitchen and living quarters to suit the changing needs of an older person.
• Asking lenders to look at bridging finance for older people to rightsize where they would not normally be approved for a mortgage but want to buy a more suitable home for their needs before the sale of their existing home has concluded.
• Mandate local authorities to find suitable sites for housing specifically designed for older adults, ensuring accessible options within local communities, including brownfield sites.

Councillor O’Driscoll said: “Irish people are living longer and we want to make it easier for people to continue to live at home as they grow older, including adapting their existing homes. But we also know that this may not always be the older person’s preferred option and we need to look at ways of helping people to rightsize if this is their choice.

ENDS