I concur with Kathy Sheridan in her piece “Let’s stop shaming empty nesters” (Opinion & Analysis, 3rd of April). Shaming elderly homeowners into downsizing is an unsettling trend. It illustrates the unjust societal pressures some citizens face when it comes to resolving issues such as the lack of available housing. There will always be various social problems – from the need for hospital beds and pricey medical treatments to the strains on emergency services and social security payments. But shifting the blame to elderly for possessing houses deemed ‘too big’ opens up a worrying precedent. What’s more, there is a potential forthcoming legislation allowing euthanasia in our country. This adds to the anxiety, as we might end up pushing our elderly into considering other ways to lighten society’s load. We need to reconsider our approach.
I firmly stand with my spouse and me as we reside in a four-bedroom house that is mortgage-free after a lifetime of work. There are two bus stops at our street’s pinnacle, one headed for Dunmore East and the other navigating Waterford’s city hub. Several conveniences surround us within walking distance – a fast-food joint, a liquor store, two gastro-pubs, pharmacies, a premium supermarket, two German cut-price shops, a barber, a locksmith, an Italian and an Asian restaurant and a doctor’s practice. We appreciate the camaraderie of our neighbours and friends in our vicinity. With no small bungalows around, relocating isn’t an enticing prospect.
According to a note by Cllr Eoin Ó Broin, the South Dublin City Council provides some units for those who would rather sell their private residences to the council for a lesser price and then downsize to becoming tenants of social housing. Simultaneously, the ESRI divulges that nearly nine out of 10 over-65s reside in properties deemed ‘under-occupied’.
At the age of 75, I’m surviving on a tiny retirement fund. Regrettably, a renowned bank was responsible for causing the loss of my private pension in 2008. My partner and I reside in a humble abode that we strived diligently to purchase and refurbish back in 1999.
I can assure you that it would take a forceful effort to remove me from our cherished dwelling if we were to be compelled to shift into a smaller property and become residents under social housing, disregarding any so-called ‘discount’.
Sincerely,
Patrick O’Byrne,
Dublin 7.