Mar 8, 2016:

"Empty Nests" will not solve housing crisis - ARI

Active Retirement Ireland (ARI) has reacted to the study published today by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) which found that there was scope for incentivising the trading down of domestic properties for older couples, or so called “empty nesters”.

Peter Kavanagh, Head of Communications and Public Affairs at ARI, said: “While the ESRI study tracked changes in the lives of the national representative population aged 50 and above, it does not represent the specific societal needs as we experience from our retired members. ARI believes it is of no benefit to encourage a societal pressure on empty nesters to move from the communities they have lived in for a significant number of years, where they are supported and enjoying their retirement,” he said.

Mr Kavanagh continued: “The economic benefits will be marginal at best, as the alternative is to enter a difficult housing market, in direct competition with first time buyers on duplex, apartment or smaller types of accommodations. Furthermore, the lack of suitable alternative housing for our retired and aging communities is wholly inadequate. This report only serves to echo the fact that Ireland has not, and is not, planning for an aging society and needs to review these matters very seriously and not pressurize our retired community.”

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