My Department has no information about specific research that examines the need for step-down housing for older people in County Clare. The funding of step-down facilities is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Health.
Individual applications for social housing support are assessed in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended. The allocation of local authority dwellings, including the prioritisation of certain households, is a matter for the local authority concerned, in accordance with their allocation schemes made under section 22 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and associated Regulations.