Housing Options for Our Ageing Population: Policy Statement

A joint policy statement “Housing Options for our Ageing Population” was launched in February 2019 by Mr. Jim Daly TD, Minister for Mental Health and Older People with Mr. Damien English TD, Minister for Housing and Urban Renewal.

The purpose of the Statement is to provide a policy framework to support our ageing population in a way that will increase the accommodation options available and give meaningful choice in how and where people choose to live as they age. It identifies a programme of 40 strategic actions to further progress housing options for older people under the themes of data gathering, collaborative working, delivering choice, support services, comfort and safety and maintaining momentum.

The Policy Statement set out that in order to deliver on the actions, an Inter-departmental Implementation Group with an independent Chairman would be established, including membership from the two Departments, the Health Service Executive, Local Authorities and relevant stakeholders. At the first meeting of the Implementation Group in September 2019 the Chairman, Mr Leo Kearns, advised the Group that he would report to both Ministers bi-annually with the first report due in December 2019.