Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 June 2026
990. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Health when an updated National Positive Ageing Strategy will be published; the resources that will be allocated to its implementation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45713/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to supporting positive ageing across the life-course as well as to enabling older people to continue to live independently in their homes and communities for as long as possible.
We have taken great strides in achieving these objectives in recent years. The reorientation of the model of care into the community, which is central to the ongoing Sláintecare reform of our health and social care system, is fundamental to enabling people with care needs to live independently in their homes and communities. Initiatives such as the Enhanced Community Care programme, the on-going development of the statutory home-support scheme, the Healthy Age Friendly Homes Programme and the diversification of housing options for older people are all supporting this paradigm shift.
More broadly, the on-going implementation of the Obesity Policy and Action Plan (2016), the National Mental Health Promotion Plan: Pathways to Wellbeing 2024–2030 and the National Physical Activity Framework 2024–2040 is playing a vital role in enabling healthy ageing.
My Department provides funding to a number of organisations across the local government, community and voluntary sectors which play a key role in supporting older people and in enabling healthy, active and autonomous ageing. That in 2019 Ireland became the first country to be formally designated as ‘age-friendly’ by the World Health Organization bears testimony to our success in this endeavour.
Nevertheless, the Government recognises the imperative for a robust and considered policy response to the challenges and opportunities presented by our ageing population, which is an achievement to be celebrated. Accordingly, in fulfilment of the commitment in the Programme for Government (2020), we established an independent Commission on Care for Older People in March 2024. The Commission is chaired by Professor Alan Barrett (Economic and Social Research Institute) and is comprised of independent experts. In Budget 2026 €0.735 million was allocated to support the work of the Commission.
The Commission is charged with examining the provision of health and social care services and supports for older people and with making recommendations to the Government for their strategic development. Subsequently a cross-departmental group will be established under the auspices of the Commission to consider whether the supports for positive ageing across the life-course are fit-for-purpose and to develop a costed implementation plan for options to optimise these supports.
The work of the Commission is being advanced through three modules which will run consecutively. In November 2025 the Commission concluded its work on Module 1 on the effectiveness, adequacy and efficiency of the care and supports which are currently provided within the health and social care system for older people. The Module 1 report, which details lessons learnt for Module 2, is currently being finalised.
In January 2026 the Commission commenced its work on Module 2, through which a framework for the overarching strategic development of health and social care services and supports for older people that advances national strategic objectives will be prepared.
The Commission has met 39 times to date, in addition to which an extraordinary meeting with HIQA was convened following the broadcasting of ‘RTÉ Investigates: Inside Ireland's Nursing Homes’ on 4th June 2025.
Further information on the Commission’s work is available on the Government of Ireland’s website at www.gov.ie/commissiononcare.
