LAST UPDATE | 16 Nov

HOUSING MINISTER JAMES Browne’s reported plan to push for older people to split their homes into flats in an effort to boost supply has been defended by the Minister for Older People.

Fine Gael’s Kieran O’Donnell appeared on RTÉ’s The Week In Politics this afternoon to defend Government’s approach to housing against opposition housing spokespersons: Sinn Féin’s Eoin Ó Broin and the Social Democrats’ Rory Hearne.

The Sunday Times reported today that Browne is drafting a policy that would enable older people to split their homes into separate flats in a new approach to pushing downsizing.

Government previously had worked to incentivise older people to relocate to a different, smaller property. Browne’s new approach mirrors a similar policy in the UK.

The Housing Minister recently vowed to end the ongoing housing crisis in his four-year term – although after the unveiling of Government’s housing plan earlier this week, opposition TDs weren’t impressed.

Junior Housing Minister John Cummins confirmed the plans on RTÉ’s This Week, saying, “The thing I want to say is there’s nobody going to force any older person to do something that they don’t to do with regards to their home.”

Today, O’Donnell said he is “very conscious” of those who are homeless in Ireland, with an increase in the number of homeless older people.

“What we’re looking to provide is choice for older people,” he said.

In the housing plan, he said he put in an action to look at working with local authorities to reduce the number of older people who are facing homelessness.

“We have seen a rise in that, and it’s a worry to me,” O’Donnell said, adding that he was aware that there is an increase in people over the age of 65 renting.

“What I want to do is provide choice, and the choice can be that if they wish to move to a smaller home, I’m dealing with the Central Bank at the moment on bridging finance.

“And furthermore, if they wish, we’d say, to adapt their own home to suit their needs, that – under planning exemptions – that would provide that as well, but it’s just one of a range of rights, including social housing.”

Browne has come out strong on a number of other housing measures, including toughening penalties for vacant and derelict homes, but has faced criticism over the scrapping of housing targets and his department’s decision to alter the minimum size of an apartment.

Responding to O’Donnell today, Eoin Ó Broin said that the number of people over the age of 55 living in the private rental sector has doubled over the last decade.

“Many of those are facing a cliff edge when they had pension age, particularly those people who won’t then be eligible for social housing.

“What should have been in the [housing] plan is actual targets for the delivery of additional social cost rental and affordable purchase homes year on year, specifically to meet the needs of those people who are approaching retirement.”

Hearne and Labour’s housing spokesperson Conor Sheehan expressed similar issues with Government’s approach to housing and affordability.

Reacting to reports of Browne’s draft legislation in relation to older people splitting their home into flats, Sheehan said that although there are “no easy ways” out of the housing crisis, “I really fear that there is no joined up thinking within the Department of Housing when it comes to any policy approach.”

He said some people may welcome the opportunity for redesign for access to the rent a room scene, but it must be serviced with access to grants and financing, and not put the pressure of resolving the “Government’s mess” upon older people.

“There needs to be greater thought put into the scheme from the perspective of a prospective renter too. To make it a long term, viable option, most renters would seek to have their own separate entrance and privacy,” Sheehan added.