Fintan Warfield (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I have raised the specific issue of rural isolation within the LGBTQI community on several occasions. It is useful to put it on the radar of organisations, reflecting the fact, in the particular context of today's discussion, that we have the first aging LGBTQI population post-criminalisation. In the past, criminalisation ensured such people were excluded and faced stigma and isolation within the home, in society, in the workplace and in the community. The LGBTQI community has a role in starting a conversation around the issues facing older LGBTQI citizens. Many of their concerns are magnified when compared with those of straight people. A survey undertaken by the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network, entitled Visible Lives, found that only 54% of aging LGBTQI citizens - defined as those between 36 and 55 years of age - felt part of their local community. Some 46% of older LGBTQI people live alone, the survey showed, 43% are single and 53% are concerned about getting older and feeling lonelier as they age. It is important that LGBTQI NGOs show leadership on this, but the issues that arise specifically for LGBTQI people are also relevant to the delegates' interests. The GLEN study reported that 42% of respondents had received a poor quality of service from civic and community services because of their LGBTQI identity. I am interested in hearing the delegates' experiences, if any, in this regard. The most frequently reported places with a poor quality of service were places of worship, hotels and bed breakfasts, restaurants and shops.

Housing will increasingly become an issue of major concern for older people. Older members of our communities should, as a broad societal objective, be supported to live at home. There probably will be a demand in future for LGBTQI-specific accommodation in both rural and urban areas. There may be scope to explore the provision of LGBTQI retirement homes or the emphasis might be on ensuring all older age facilities are sensitive to and respectful of LGBTQI needs. For an LGBTQI citizen entering a general older age home there could be difficulties if the environment is not respectful of that person's identity. I am interested in the delegates' views on meeting the housing needs of LGBTQI people specifically and of minority groups in general.