A Place to Age Well: Ireland’s Housing Challenge and Opportunity

Population projections indicate that Ireland’s population could reach 6.5 million by 2057 under a moderate scenario based on the 2022 Census. Within this expansion, a key demographic trend will be the ageing of the population. By 2057, the number of people aged 65 and over is projected to reach 1.9 million, accounting for 28 per cent of the total population. This will have significant implications for housing policy, demanding not just an increase in supply but the delivery of homes that are accessible, adaptable, and designed for older people’s needs.

Ageing and Housing need in the coming years

Based on the population projections and assuming that the number of 65+ households as a proportion of the 65+ population persists at current the current rate, we estimate that households where the Census reference is 65 years or over will increase from 481,505 households in 2022 to 819,753 households in 2040, as outlined in Table 1: Potential Number of households headed by persons aged 65+. Given projected future trends, addressing the housing deficit is crucial, but must be done in a strategic manner that not only responds to the needs of today, but also the future.

Table 1: Potential number of households headed by persons aged 65+

Source: Projections based on CSO Population and Labour Force Projections 2023-2057 (M2)

According to Census 2022, 83.4 per cent of people aged 65+ own the home where they live. 7.7 per cent of people aged 65+ rent from a local authority or voluntary body, while 3.5 per cent rent from the private sector. While still a small portion of the overall figure (17,000), the number of households in this age-group renting in the private sector has increased by 83 per cent since Census 2016. Census 2022 data also showed that the proportion of people living alone increased consistently with age. Over one-quarter of people aged 65+ lived alone (189,574 people) and this rose to 44 per cent for people aged 85+ (30,072 people); the majority of these being owner-occupiers: 145,819 persons 65 years and over. Meanwhile, according to the CSO’s Older Persons Information Hub, 22,769 people were usually resident in a nursing home. The increasing number of older people in private rented accommodation, as well as the numbers of those living alone has implications for planning housing options for the future, especially as these trends develop into the future.

A Lifecycle Approach to Housing

A sustainable housing systemmust be inclusive of all people, at all stages of life, and responsive to different physical, cultural, and social needs. A lifecycle approach to housing delivery considers how housing needs evolve over time—for young adults starting out, families expanding, and individuals ageing or experiencing disability. 

For older people and disabled individuals, housing should enable independent living for as long as possible. This requires adoption of  Universal Design principles and the delivery of a diverse mix of housing types within communities, supported by services, public transport, and opportunities for participation. These principles are already recognised in Government policy, including the Housing Options for Our Ageing Population, but must be more consistently implemented in delivery.

In 2024, Social Justice Ireland and ALONE jointly published Policies for Ageing Well at Home in Ireland, which outlines a housing framework to support older people to live with dignity and autonomy. We recommend that housing policy respond to the evolving needs of people as they age, addressing health, community connection, social inclusion and affordability, through a mix of housing options including: Dispersed Housing, Shared Housing Across All Tenures Housing, and Dedicated Older Persons’ Housing.

Considering demographic change, we recommend Government outline plans to encourage construction of the right type of housing for an ageing population and set a target of 123,000 right sized housing units as part of the overall housing stock by 2040. A significant proportion of this should be delivered through social housing to facilitate people aged 65+ who live in private rented, local authority and voluntary body rented accommodation to move to homes more appropriate to their needs as they age.

A lifecycle approach must also include retrofitting and upgrading existing homes to improve accessibility, energy efficiency, and safety—particularly in older housing stock. This contributes to long-term sustainability and resilience in the face of demographic and environmental change.

What needs to be done

• Adopt a lifecycle approach to housing policy, ensuring that delivery plans embed Universal Design principles to support people to remain in their communities as their needs change over time as committed to in Government policy.
• Government should outline plans to encourage construction of the right type of housing for an ageing population and set a target of 123,000 right sized housing units as part of the overall housing stock by 2040. A significant proportion of this should be delivered through social housing to facilitate people aged 65+ who live in private rented, local authority and voluntary body rented accommodation to move to homes more appropriate to their needs as they age.