I thank Deputy Hayes for raising this important issue today. The clear focus of this Government is to increase the supply of new build social and affordable homes to buy or rent. There is a record level of investment being provided for the delivery of housing in 2025, with overall capital funding available of €6.8 billion. The capital provision is supplemented by a further €1.65 billion in current funding to address housing need. This funding will support the delivery of increased numbers of social housing and cost-rental homes. On 10 June 2025, the Government approved new policy measures to provide for the enhancement of rent controls and tenancy protections from 1 March 2026. The stronger tenancy protections will provide further improvements to security of tenure. The rental sector provides a home for a significant proportion of the population and we need to give people more certainty that their tenancy will not be ended. We want to provide more stability and confidence in this area. The programme for Government includes a number of commitments related to the supply of housing for older people. I have been appointed to a role where for the first time there is a stand-alone Minister with responsibility for older people in both the Departments of housing and health and it is something I am very committed to in terms of housing for older people. As I said, the programme for Government includes a number of commitments related to the supply of housing for older people. This commits to increasing housing options and choices available to older people to facilitate ageing in place with dignity and independence. Work on these commitments is ongoing within a policy group recently established within my Department, by me as Minister, to look at the progressing and implementation of these commitments. This work will be advanced through specific measures in the new housing plan that is currently being prepared by my Department. Under the housing assistance payment scheme and the rental accommodation scheme, local authorities also continue to provide critical housing supports by enabling access to accommodation within the private rented market for eligible households, including older people. My Department provides capital funding to local authorities and approved housing bodies to support the delivery of social homes in their area, including for older people. Under the social housing investment programme, my Department provides up to 100% of the costs where local authorities build or acquire homes and apartments for social housing use. Under the capital assistance scheme, my Department provides up to 100% capital funding to approved housing bodies to provide new social homes for priority categories to include homeless people, disability and housing for older people. From 2020 to 2024, 514 units for older people were delivered under the capital assistance scheme, CAS, by providing purpose-designed age-friendly homes. Furthermore, CALF funding is capital support provided to AHBs by local authorities to facilitate the funding of construction, acquisition or refurbishment of new social housing units which may also accommodate older people. Meeting the housing needs of all households, including older people, continues to be a priority for this Government. We will continue our focus on the delivery of homes to provide a range of choices which meets the diverse needs of the ageing population, spanning owner-occupier, private rental and social housing. I did not know the man Deputy Hayes made reference to. Was his name Kodzo?

Sentiment score: 0.29

I join in acknowledging his recent passing. He was obviously someone very close to the Deputy. I am utterly committed to housing for all people. For me, it about providing choice. I take this very seriously and I am actively progressing and working on it. As the Deputy said, our demographic is evolving and we will have an older population. We have to bring a range of choices across the spectrum for older people and I want to work on that with all sides of the House. It is hugely important and very much a priority for this Government.

Sentiment score: 0.13

I again thank Deputy Hayes for raising this important matter. I listened carefully to the points he raised. The Government is working diligently in conjunction with key stakeholders, particularly local authorities and approved housing bodies, to increase delivery of housing for older people. We also want to work with the private sector because everyone has a part to play in the delivery of housing, including for older people. The clear focus of this Government is to increase the supply of new builds and affordable homes to buy or rent. As I stated, a record level of investment is being provided in 2025, with capital funding of €6.8 billion supplemented by a further €1.65 billion in current funding allocated to address housing need. The Programme for Government: Securing Ireland's Future includes a number of commitments to deliver practical housing options for positive ageing. It commits to increasing the housing options available to older people to facilitate ageing in place with dignity and independence. As I stated, work on these commitments is ongoing, with a policy group recently established in the Department of housing to look at proposals on how best to progress them. Crucially, consideration of these proposals will feed into development of the new housing plan being progressed in the Department of housing. These proposals will set out a pathway to develop practical housing options for positive ageing to meet the housing needs of our growing and ageing population. For me, it is all about choice when it comes to older people. Like any group, they will have differing needs. It is about providing a range of choices which allows older people to make their own decisions on where they wish to live. This could mean continuing to live where they are, moving to a smaller unit, independent living or supported living. My role in the Departments of Health and housing is to ensure older people have all the supports in housing and health they need to enable them to make those choices and decisions.

Sentiment score: 0.42