1908. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in the context of the current pause of the financial contribution scheme under the Department of Housing’s Housing Acquisition Guidelines (details supplied), to outline the way in which the new National Rightsizing Policy will enable local authorities to provide housing for homeowners who wish to downsize into older persons accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59246/26]

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.

Delivering Homes, Building Communities will also 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.