‘Let’s stop shaming empty nesters’

Sir, – Kathy Sheridan’s article “Let’s stop shaming empty nesters” (Opinion & Analysis, April 3rd) strikes a chord.

My wife and I are in our seventies, and we live in a four-bedroom detached house which, after many years and hard work, is ours and mortgage free.

At the top of our street are two bus stops, one heading for Dunmore East, the other accessing Waterford city centre. Close by, all within walking distance, are a fast-food restaurant, an off-licence, two gastro-pubs, two pharmacists, an artisan supermarket, two German discount retailers, a barber’s shop, a locksmith, a doctor’s surgery, and Asian and Italian restaurants. We have friends and good neighbours in the area. There are no small bungalows available locally.

Why would we move? – Yours, etc,

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MICHAEL C O’CONNOR,

Waterford.

Sir, – Kathy Sheridan’s piece focuses on the now-familiar campaign against elderly homeowners that attempts to shame them into an unincentivised downsizing to help with the housing shortage. This sort of societal pressure on a specific group of citizens illustrates clearly why many are so deeply concerned at the looming prospect of legislation allowing euthanasia in Ireland. There will always be crises – in accommodation, hospital beds, medical treatments, access to expensive drugs, pressure on emergency services, social security payments, etc. The finger-pointing won’t stop at owning oversized houses. Older people in their final years will be encouraged to think of other ways of easing the burden on society. God help us. – Yours, etc,

JOHN GRIFFIN,

Kells,

Co Meath.

Sir, – Cllr Eoin Ó Broin writes that South Dublin City Council reserves a number of units for those that wish to sell their private homes to the council at a discount, and then downsize to become social housing tenants (Letters, April 3rd). Meanwhile, the ESRI reports that nearly nine in 10 over-65s live in “under-occupied” housing.

I am 75 and living on a small pension, thanks to one of our major banks destroying my private pension in 2008. I live with my partner in a modest house which we worked very hard to buy and renovate in 1999.

I will be dragged screaming and kicking from our beautiful home if we are forced to downsize to become social housing tenants, no matter the “discount”. – Yours, etc,

PATRICK O’BYRNE,

Dublin 7.