COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, September 08, 2025

QUESTION NO. 8

QUESTION: Councillor Y. Collins

To ask the Chief Executive for details of how the Council is integrating age friendly design in planning, to meet the needs of an ageing population and to foster inclusivity

REPLY:

The SDCC County Development Plan (2022-2028) includes a number of objectives to deliver age friendly and well design housing to meet the needs of an ageing population and also support a sense of community and inclusivity. The implementation of the objectives are considered in the assessment of private developments and the design of Council led schemes.

The Council supports the principles of age friendly through the Development Plan. This is outlined in H3 Objective 8, which seeks ‘to support and facilitate the implementation of the South Dublin Age Friendly Strategy 2020-2024, the National Age Friendly Programme, and Housing Options for Our Ageing Population 2019 and having regard to Age Friendly Ireland’s guidelines for Planning Authorities (2021)’.

In addition, Policy QDP 10 Mix of Dwelling Types of the Development Plan outlines an objective to ensure that a wide variety of housing types, sizes and tenures are provided in the County in accordance with the provisions of the South Dublin County Council Housing Strategy 2022-2028.

QDP10 Objective 2 - To ensure that our ageing society is catered for in a choice of housing provision having regard to South Dublin Age Friendly County Strategy and Age Friendly Ireland’s Principle and Guidelines for the Planning Authority (2021).

COS2 Objective 5: To promote accessible and inclusive social infrastructure for a range of users by adopting a universal design approach where feasible and to provide for an age friendly society in which people of all ages can live full, active, valued and healthy lives, consistent with RPO 9.12 and RPO 9.13 of the RSES and having regard to Building for Everyone: A Universal Design Approach – Planning and Policy’ (2012).

The above Development Plan planning policies and objectives are in accordance with the National Planning Framework. The NPF looks to respond to the growing population as well as the fact that the population is living longer. The increase in population coupled with an ageing society will have implications for the health sector and the services required to facilitate this demographic. As more people live longer lives, they will want to stay healthy and independent, live in their own homes and communities, therefore Government policy ‘is to support older people to live with dignity and independence in their own homes and communities for as long as possible’.

The NPF seeks to ensure that there is a more ‘seamless and appropriate continuum of housing choices with appropriate supports for older people and a built environment that is attractive, accessible and safe, older people will be supported and motivated to enjoy more active, healthy and connected lives and to age confidently and comfortably in their community’, therefore promoting inclusivity and meeting the growing needs of this cohort. Furthermore, the NPF also supports key design approaches for age friendly design. There is a need to ensure housing is ‘well-designed lifetime adaptable infill and brownfield development close to existing services and facilities, supported by universal design and improved urban amenities, including public spaces and parks as well as direct and accessible walking routes’.

This is specifically outlined in National Policy Objective 40, which states: ‘Local planning, housing, health facilities and services, transport/ accessibility and leisure policies will be developed with a focus on meeting the needs and opportunities of an ageing population along with the inclusion of specific projections, supported by clear proposals in respect of ageing communities as part of the core strategy of city and county development plans’.

In addition and to implement the planning policy, SDCC has recently completed Age Friendly projects include 10 homes at Brady’s Court, Oldbawn – winner of the 2024 Age Friendly Ireland housing award, 8 homes at An Clos Beag, Ronanstown,  7 homes at Lindisfarne, Clodalkin and 10 homes at The little Arbour, Templeogue, demonstrate SDCC’s commitment to the provision of high quality, well designed and well integrated age friendly housing in suitable locations within the Council’s administrative area.

SDCC’s current programme of own-build Age Friendly housing includes the following projects, all of which are now under construction:

Pearse Brothers Court, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16	10 Age Friendly homes
Saint Aongus Close, Tallaght, Dublin 24	12 Age Friendly homes
St Ronan’s Crescent Clondalkin, Dublin 22	9 Age Friendly homes
Sarsfield Park, Lucan	5 Age Friendly homes
Alpine Court, Clondalkin, Dublin 22	13 Age Friendly homes
Melrose Court, Clondalkin, Dublin 22	27 Age homes

This programme of Age Friendly projects embodies current best practice for the provision of sustainable, life-time dwellings which will facilitate older persons to ‘age in place’ in comfort, security and dignity in their own communities. Projects are designed withing within the context of current housing policy and guidelines and where possible use is made of pre-approved house types such as those included in the Department of Housing Planning and Local Government Design Manual for Quality Housing. The general layout employed on most of the current projects typically consists of a mixture of single storey and two storey own-door homes arranged around shared, enclosed courtyard spaces.

In addition to seeking future appropriate sites for Age Friendly specific housing, consideration is given at feasibility stage to the inclusion of Age Friendly specific units in all of SDCC’s own-build projects subject to site suitability and housing needs. Rightsizing is another option which offers older residents the opportunity to move from larger, under-occupied homes into specifically designed, age friendly homes that can meet their evolving needs now and into the future. Further information on rightsizing and Age Friendly homes can be found on SDCC’s website at: Age Friendly Housing and Rightsizing - SDCC