COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF DEVELOPMENT PLAN MEETING

Wednesday, January 27, 2021

MOTION NO. 28

MOTION: Councillor G. O'Connell, Councillor P. Gogarty, Councillor L. O'Toole

That the Chief Executive makes it a specific strategic objective in the Development Plan to enable older people to move into more energy-efficient, centrally located independent living housing near retail and recreational amenities and that this can be speeded up by designating schemes that would make it attractive for single people over the age of 70 living in 3-bed and larger houses, social or private, to vacate these premises, freeing them up for young families, with commensurate payments or comparative rent changes being made to facilitate same.

REPORT:

The motion includes specific details in relation to the location, financial incentives, design, and age cohort thresholds for right-sizing and therefore this objective is overly specific for this stage of the Development Plan process. The merits of the Motion are noted whereby the Development Plan can consider a greater variety and mix of dwelling types and dwelling sizes in all communities which will facilitate a better mix of age groups and household formations and provide opportunities to move to a new home within the same community at different stages of the life cycle. 

Recommendation:

It is recommended that this motion is adopted with amendment. This type of policy provision can be considered as part of the draft plan preparation on foot of the CE Strategic Recommendation (See Part 3) page 25 as follows; ‘Ensure that the Housing Strategy recognises the diverse needs of all of South Dublin’s citizens meeting, insofar as is feasible, their diverse accommodation needs.