Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 November 2025
339. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health with consideration for the findings of national and international research, the measures that will be implemented to deal with the impact of loneliness on all age groups, as loneliness is considered a major public health issue internationally; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64112/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra340. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if it is proposed to develop a strategy to help prevent loneliness as a public health policy priority; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64113/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Question No.339 and Question No.340 together.
Given the detrimental impacts of loneliness, a significant body of work has been undertaken, across diverse areas of the Department of Health and the HSE, to address this.
National Mental Health Promotion Plan
The first National Mental Health Promotion Plan for Ireland was launched in December 2024. It was informed by national and international evidence and provides the foundation for the programme of work that will be required to deliver on the high-level goals and objectives aimed at promoting positive mental health and wellbeing for the whole population.
The Plan contains six high-level goals (with associated actions), two of which specifically aim to address loneliness and social exclusion.
A National Policy Lead for Mental Health Promotion within Department of Health was appointed in September 2025. The priority for 2025 is engagement with other government Departments to finalise actions and agree timelines for implementation.
Men’s Sheds/Sheds for Life
Men’s Sheds provide a space for men to come together, learn new skills and socialise with their peers. Healthy Ireland and the HSE supports the National Office for the Irish Men’s Sheds Association (IMSA) which exists to support the growth and sustainability of men’s sheds on the island of Ireland and the Sheds for Life Programme, which focuses on improving the physical and mental health and wellbeing of the shedders. This includes the provision of resources, health and wellbeing programmes and men’s health information.
Social prescribing
Social prescribing recognises that health is heavily determined by social factors such as poverty, isolation and loneliness. Social prescribing offers GPs and other health professionals a means of referring people to a range of non-clinical community supports which can have significant benefits for their overall health and wellbeing. HSE-funded Social Prescribing services are now available in over 44 locations around the country. These services are delivered in partnership with community and voluntary organisations such as Family Resource Centres and Local Development Companies. The HSE Social Prescribing Framework outlines how social prescribing can be mainstreamed and integrated within the HSE. In 2024, over 4,714 adults accessed social prescribing services across the country. The majority of participants (59%) were referred as a result of loneliness or social isolation.
Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme
The goal of the Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme is to improve the long-term health and wellbeing of 24 communities across Ireland. The programme takes a place-based approach to tackling health inequalities with a focus on the determinants of health. Health inequality impacts on life expectancy, the risk of chronic disease and the general health of a person. The significant investment under the Sláintecare Healthy Communities programme allow us to work in partnership with local authorities and local community groups to further enhance supports for tobacco cessation, healthy eating, parenting and social prescribing in the area. This investment and partnership approach will empower people to make healthier lifestyle choices to improve their overall physical and mental health and wellbeing.
As part of the Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme, Social Prescribing link workers have been employed by local community organisations to deliver an integrated social prescribing service with clear referral pathways from GPs, Mental Health Services, Primary Care and Older People’s Services in each of the 24 areas. People can also self-refer to these programmes and service. The aim is to empower individuals to access a range of community-based options and health service programmes and services to improve their health and wellbeing.
Meals on Wheels & Day Care Services:
Since its establishment, the Meals on Wheels service has been an invaluable resource in helping older people in our communities to maintain their health and independence through the provision of healthy meals.
The importance of the service and the social benefits both to the client and the wider community is clear with the Meals on Wheels service throughout the years proving itself to be a vital resource in many rural communities.
This service benefits not only the service users themselves but also their families by providing peace of mind that their loved ones have a friendly face visiting them regularly.
This service supports older people to continue to live in their own homes for as long as possible which is a key priority for me and for the Government.
The triangle of supports of home care, day care and meals on wheels – including dementia-specific supports – are a key factor in supporting older people to age well in their own homes.
Day Centres are a crucial part of social care provision in our communities, providing invaluable support for people who may, for any number of reasons, be experiencing isolation and loneliness. Currently day care services are provided across the country by private, voluntary and HSE funded Day Care centres across the country.
There are currently 318 Meals on Wheels Organisations (based on Quarter One 2025 data) who are funded to deliver 2.7 million meals in 2025. They operate across the country delivering on average 236,000 meals monthly to 18,000 clients monthly, 281 are Grant Aided and 37 are HSE Services.
Meals on Wheels funding has increased by close to 80% over the last number of years, from €3.5m in 2022, to a current budget of €6.25m for 2025. Budget 2026 secured a further €2 million in funding for Meals on Wheels services.
An additional €10 million in capital funding was also recently made available for the Community Capital Funding initiative to support improvements to service provision for HSE-funded Meals on Wheels and Day Centres. This supported capital projects such as upgrades to kitchens for increased food production and quality and food safety improvements at these sites.
There are approximately 313 Day Care services in operation across the country with approximately 15,657 service users registered who avail of these services nationally.
Mental Health Services
Mental health service developments are guided by Sharing the Vision: A Mental Health Policy for Everyone, Ireland’s national mental health policy. This framework emphasizes the need for tailored mental health services for older adults, including better integration between specialist psychiatry of later life teams and general primary care services. The policy advocates for community-based approaches to care that address not only clinical needs but also social isolation, physical health and loneliness—significant factors affecting mental health in older age.
Ongoing work includes the development of integrated care pathways between primary care and mental health services, including consultation-liaison psychiatry, shared care models, and efforts to better address the physical health needs of people accessing specialist mental health services within the primary care context.
