Cork City Council says 'rightsizing' house programme is halted over funding

Cork City Council has confirmed that it’s rightsizing housing programme is unable to continue this year due to insufficient funding from the government.

The council has been implementing a rightsizing programme in recent years whereby they acquire larger second-hand properties from applicants wishing to downsize to more suitable accommodation.

In total, €6.8m has been spent on the programme in the last three years, with €2,900,758 spent acquiring 16 properties in 2023 and €3,682,428 on acquiring 17 properties in 2024.

In 2025 so far, €206,250 has been spent acquiring one property, and the council said that no further properties will be acquired.

Alison O'Rourke, the council’s housing director, explained: 

“These purchases were delivered through the Acquisition Programme subject to Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) funding.

“Limited funding for the Acquisitions Progamme is available for 2025 with funds being focused towards the Tenant in Situ Scheme as a method of Homeless prevention thus no further Rightsizing acquisitions are expected to be completed in 2025.” 

A circular was issued by the Department of Housing, Local Government, and Heritage on March 31, which said there would be a capital funding allocation of €20m for Cork City Council’s acquisitions programme in 2025.

The council said that “insufficient” funding had been provided to cover costs carried over for the previous year in the tenant in situ programme, which sees Cork City Council acquire properties a landlord is planning to sell.

This meant that several properties which the council had gone to sale agreed stage on have had their sales held up indefinitely.

Sinn Féin Councillor Kenneth Collins, to whom the data on the rightsizing programme was provided, said: 

“This scheme is win-win. For older people who want to move to smaller accommodation, they get Council-supported housing. This lifts the burden of maintenance and often allows them to stay in their local community. It also adds a family home to the Council’s housing stock.

“Last year, 16 Rightsizing sales were completed. That’s 16 families making new memories in a home and 16 older people able to enjoy their older years without worrying about maintaining a house that is too big for them.

“I personally know other older people who are interested in this scheme but won’t be able to take it up this year because of the government’s funding cut. Instead, they are forced to continue living in unsuitable accommodation that they struggle to maintain.” 

The scheme costs just under €200,000 per home on average, with Mr Collins saying this “represents good value for money for the state”, as well as for the former homeowners.