COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, April 13, 2015

QUESTION NO.30

QUESTION: Councillor G. O'Connell

To ask the Chief Executive if, given the age profile of the more settled areas of the County, any consideration is being given to the provision of supported or sheltered or apartment type accommodation that would allow persons or couples who so wish to downsize from 3/4 Bedroom semi-detached homes to something that is more in keeping with their needs and life style with the spin-off that it would  free up housing stock and rejunivate communities while supporting the desire of over 55s to continue to live independently preferably within their own neighbourhood.

REPLY:

Currently 91 applicants from persons over 55 years of age (representing .01%) are included in the Council's social Housing List.   A total of 31 existing tenants of similar age profile have applied for transfer to alternative accommodation, some but not all of these transfer requests are seeking to down-size. The Council will continue to promote the improved use of its own rented housing stock through facilitating , where possible , existing elderly Council tenants wishing to surrender  larger units of accommodation in return for  units  more suitable to their current  needs. Current social housing stock comprises approx. 550 units suitable for elder accomodation.

The policy of the Council to date when developing housing schemes is to promote a good social mix and to counter social segregation in the proposed schemes by providing a suitable mix of OAP one & two bedroom units together with the traditional family type 3 bedroom unit. In order to determine the required social mix, consideration is given to the housing needs in force at the time of planning a scheme. OAP  units are in the main situated in close proximity to shops, churches, public transport etc. In planning for the future needs of older people, the Council will pursue this policy for the period of the curent Housing Strategy 2010-2016 and in the draft Housing Strategy 2016-2022 which is currently being prepared.

The draft Housing Strategy 2016-2022 proposes that where a site or portion of a site is to be  developed for elderly persons/assisted living accommodation, the portion of the site to be used for elderly/assisted living accomodation will generate a reduced percentage requirement in respect of social housing. This is intended to encourage development of elder specific accomodation which may also result in elderly persons vacating larger family type homes excessive to their current housing needs and making these available to emerging families on the open market.