Delivery of more suitable homes and choice for older people prioritised in new housing plan
- Published on: 13 November 2025
- Last updated on: 20 November 2025
Minister of State for Older People and Housing Kieran O’Donnell has said the delivery of more suitable homes and choice for older people, which supports independent living, is firmly prioritised in the new housing plan.
Minister O’Donnell said:
“I am pleased to outline a range of measures in the new housing plan “Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030” which will see increased levels of housing choice and supports for older people.
“The overall aim is to increase delivery of more suitable homes and choice across both public and private housing, which supports older people to live independently in their own homes and communities.
“Priority measures, which will be progressed in an action plan, aim to boost delivery of housing for older people through: increased delivery of social housing, increased delivery of more suitable homes in private housing and increased choice to support voluntary rightsizing.”
The measures identified to meet the housing needs of older people in the plan include:
Increased delivery of social housing for older people
Government will support an inclusive approach and a greater emphasis on delivery through:
- introduction of dedicated older people social housing annual targets in each local authority Housing Delivery Action Plan;
- introduction of more efficient data collection processes on older people housing delivery and allocations, having regard to older people and homelessness; and
- local authorities will enhance delivery through improved site identification, supporting more targeted local authority and Approved housing bodies(AHB) delivery specifically for older people ensuring accessible locations within local communities.
Increased delivery of more suitable Homes and choice for older people in private housing
Delivery of more suitable homes will be increased to meet the housing needs of our growing ageing population through:
- increasing provision of homes suitable for older people through Housing Strategies in all tenures of housing in residential developments;
- create more choice for older people through a review of the planning exemptions for those who wish to convert their homes into separate living spaces; and
- recognising the increased number of older people renting in the private rented sector, examine the affordability challenges for older people approaching retirement in this sector and how to address these challenges.
Increasing choice for older people to support voluntary rightsizing
Government will further support older households who choose to voluntarily rightsize through:
- advance 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.
Collaboration
Government will also work collaboratively through:
- the establishment of a cooperation framework between the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Department of Health on the integration of health and social care supports and housing for older people, taking account of the learnings from the Richmond Place, Inchicore Pilot Model of supported housing for older people and other projects to support wider delivery.
- Age Friendly Ireland has been established as a Local Government Shared Service in recognition of the need to respond to demographic changes.
These measures were informed by a working group established in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, along with key stakeholder engagement.
Government is also committed to providing more funding for the enhanced Housing Adaptation Grant for Older People and Disabled People scheme, which helps support people to adapt their homes to their needs.
Minister O’Donnell concluded:
“As our population ages, it is essential that we deliver more suitable homes and choice for older people which supports them to live independently and remain connected to their communities. This plan is a reflection of Government’s commitment to ensuring that older people can have the opportunity to avail of increased housing choice for ageing in place.
“As Minister of State with responsibility for older people and housing, I am fully committed to ensuring that the measures outlined in the plan are implemented to the benefit of our older population.”