A Waterford Councillor has hit out at plans to encourage older people to downsize.

The local authority announced last month that it’s looking at financial incentives targeted at elderly tenants in a bid to cut the number of under occupied homes.

The idea was suggested by Fianna Fáil’s Eamon Quinlan, but his party colleague John O’Leary is disappointed that it’s being considered.

“I think it’s very sad that that we’re now going to focus and beam in on people who have lived all their lives in their own particular area.

“Now they’re going to be under pressure because they might have a three-bedroom house and live on their own.

“They’re going to be made feel uncomfortable so that they [the Department of Housing] that they can solve the housing crisis in this country.

Councillor O’Leary added that he’ll never support a downsizing list.

“There’s only one way to solve the housing crisis. That’s to build more houses.

“I’m not, and never will be in favour of focusing people who are living in an area for the last 30, 40 or 50 years to be made feel guilty for living where they are.”

Director of Housing Ivan Grimes says a downsizing scheme would be entirely voluntary for the tenant.

“There will be no question of making elderly tenants of ours feel uncomfortable in their homes.

“Our allocation scheme is quite specific in that only with the consent of the tenant can they be transferred to a smaller house.

“It will be entirely voluntary, and we certainly wouldn’t be compelling anyone to give up a larger house.”