1849. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether the forthcoming action plan on housing for older people will address the position of older private renters who have no pathway to home ownership and who will require social housing support on reaching retirement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62280/26]

1851. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the date on which the Housing Agency review of the older persons housing financial contribution scheme commenced; the date on which that review is expected to conclude; the expected publication date of the action plan on housing for older people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62262/26]

1852. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has assessed the potential for a national voluntary rightsizing programme for older owner-occupiers to increase the availability of existing three-bedroom and four-bedroom family homes; whether a national or pilot scheme will be considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62287/26]

1853. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether any proposal to introduce or expand a national rightsizing scheme for older private homeowners has been deferred, discontinued or is no longer under consideration; if so, the reasons for this decision; the alternative measures being progressed to support older homeowners who wish to rightsize within their own communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62286/26]

1854. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the review of existing local authority financial contribution schemes to support voluntary rightsizing; the actions taken following the April 2026 change to the Central Bank mortgage lending rules to facilitate bridging finance for persons trading down; if data is available on the availability and take-up of such finance since that change; the further measures planned to address financial barriers to rightsizing and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62285/26]

1855. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures being taken to increase the supply of appropriately located one and two-bedroom homes for older owner-occupiers who wish to rightsize within their existing communities; if local authorities are required to assess and plan for such demand; whether specific delivery targets will be considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62284/26]

1856. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has assessed the current and projected demand among older owner-occupiers for smaller age-appropriate homes within their existing communities; if this demand is measured at local authority level; if not, if such an assessment will be undertaken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62283/26]

1857. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the actions being taken to deliver on the commitment in Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030 to increase housing choice for older owner-occupiers who wish to voluntarily rightsize while remaining in their existing communities; the measures to be introduced; the timeline for delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62282/26]

1967. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the older persons housing financial contribution scheme given reports that the initiative has been paused or shelved pending a national policy review; and the timeline for the completion of the national policy review. [64067/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1849, 1851 to 1857, inclusive, and 1967 together.

The 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 to increase delivery of social housing for older people, increase delivery of more suitable homes and choice for older people in private housing, and increase choice to support voluntary rightsizing.

Delivering Homes, Building Communities will also increase choice for older people to support voluntary rightsizing 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.

As part of the work being progressed, I am pleased to welcome the recent positive announcement by the Central Bank that it is amending the mortgage measures to exempt certain types of bridging loans from the Loan-to-Income (LTI) limit that applies to lending for principal home purposes. This will assist in supporting voluntary rightsizing where older people choose to purchase a new home prior to concluding the sale of their existing home.

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 to review the operation of existing local authority financial contribution schemes, work is already underway with the Housing Agency in advancing this review. This review, which commenced in April and is ongoing, will inform policy considerations.

Recognising the increased number of older people renting in the private sector, Delivering Homes, Building Communities commits to examine the affordability challenges for older people approaching retirement in this sector and how to address these challenges.

Local authorities are required under Part 3 of the Planning and Development Act 2024 when preparing a development plan to prepare a Housing Strategy.? The Housing Strategy is required to make adequate provision for the housing of the existing and future population of the area of the development plan in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.? The Housing Strategy is required to take account of the need for a mix of housing types and sizes to meet the requirements of different household groups, including the specific needs of older persons. These provisions support the delivery of accessible and inclusive housing that responds to a diverse range of needs.?

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.