1905. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if an impact assessment was undertaken prior to the decision to remove the financial contribution scheme from the Department of Housing Acquisition Guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59230/26]

1906. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the engagement and consultation that took place with stakeholder groups that represent older people (details supplied) prior to the decision to remove the financial contribution scheme from his Department’s Acquisition Guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59244/26]

1907. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to clarify the reasoning underpinning the decision to remove the financial contribution scheme from the Department of Housing Acquisition Guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59245/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1905, 1906 and 1907 together.

Government 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. 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 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 and it is expected it will be completed in the coming months.

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 line with a commitment in Delivering Homes, Building Communities, my Department is undertaking a review of the operation of existing local authority financial contribution schemes.

The Social Housing Second-Hand Acquisitions Programme is available to local authorities to support social housing for households in the most challenging and precarious housing situations.