COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, December 14, 2020

HEADED ITEM NO. 12

POLICY FOR RIGHTSIZING AND ALLOCATION OF AGE FRIENDLY ACCOMMODATION - FOR APPROVAL

A pre-recorded presentation on the development and key features of the draft policy is available here.

Following the adoption new County Age Friendly Strategy earlier this year, associated proposals for age friendly housing were brought to both the Housing SPC and the full Council in September 2020. The report on age friendly housing included details of both rightsizing research that the Council had undertaken in conjunction with Age Friendly Ireland and details of a study of underoccupancy of current Council tenancies.

The Housing SPC agreed at its September meeting to establish a subgroup to draft a rightsizing policy. This subgroup met to consider and discuss the key issues relating to a policy on 22^nd October and then to review the proposed draft policy for Rightsizing and Allocation of Age Friendly Accommodation on 25^th November. The sub-group comprised Cllr Charlie O’Connor, Cllr Deirdre O’Donovan, Cllr Joanna Tuffy, Cllr Laura Donaghy and Sharon Harty from the Housing SPC while Cllr. Emma Murphy joined the second meeting as a representative of the Social, Community and Equality SPC given that Committee’s remit on age friendly initiatives. The draft policy was also shared with Age Friendly Ireland for input and advice. Following its work and deliberations the sub-group endorsed a draft policy which was then submitted to the Housing SPC for consideration. The draft policy was duly considered by the Housing SPC at its meeting and the Committee has endorsed the draft policy for recommendation to full Council.

The Members should note that the policy, if adopted, contains a number of required amendments to the Council’s Allocations Scheme as detailed in the appendix to the draft policy.