245. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department has examined the potential for a nationally supported and professionally managed home sharing programme to increase the use of underoccupied homes in order to provide affordable accommodation and support for older people to age in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53750/26]

The Government’s new housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities aims to deliver 300,000 new homes by the end of 2030, including 72,000 social homes and 90,000 affordable housing supports by the end of 2030. To achieve this, the largest ever housing budget in the history of the State has been secured in 2026, with in excess of €9 billion in capital funding through the Exchequer, the Land Development Agency (LDA) and the Housing Finance Agency (HFA).

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

Delivering Homes, Building Communities also includes a commitment to develop an action plan on delivering housing for older people and this plan is currently under preparation.