TWO important documents were launched in Swords recently as part of Fingal County Council’s Age Friendly strategy.
The report, ‘The Provision of Accommodation for older people in Fingal – Engaging with the Private Sector’, and its accompanying construction information leaflet, ‘10 Ways to Construct a More Lifetime Adaptable and Age Friendly Home’, are important additions to the council’s work in enhancing its approach to the provision of life cycle adaptable and age appropriate housing across the county at construction stage.
Fingal currently has the youngest population in the country. However, this population is ageing rapidly which brings both opportunities and challenges.
One of the main challenges for policy-makers is addressing the anticipated housing needs of this changing demographic.
Constructing lifetime adaptable housing using some or all of the 10 steps featured in this report will assist in addressing this need across the county.
Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Anthony Lavin, who launched the documents in the company of Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, Damien English, said: “Now is the time to take a proactive approach to addressing this challenge and to ensure that we, in Fingal County Council, proactively lead the way in promoting the development of age appropriate housing to meet the growing need of our citizens.”
Minister English said: “I am delighted to launch two important documents produced by Age Friendly Ireland and Fingal County Council.
“I welcome the ‘10 Ways to Construct a More Lifetime Adaptable and Age Friendly Home’ document as it provides guidance on the additional provisions that can be incorporated into the design of a new home or apartment and will assist in ensuring that people can Age in Place for as long as they choose to do so.
“The ‘Engaging with the Private Sector – Phase one Report’ will be hugely beneficial in creating awareness of the opportunities offered in the provision of housing for older people.”
The report provides a roadmap that marks additional direction for the council’s Housing and Planning Policy.
It also seeks to enhance an understanding among developers in the Fingal area of the need to embed consideration of the housing needs of an older population into their planning. Further information can be found at www.fingal.ie