Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the teams from the Department of Health and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. It has been an interesting debate. I acknowledge the substantial work and progress around the country. Deputy Flaherty referred to the hidden plight of older people in housing. I will focus on the plight of older people in the specific category about which I have a particular concern. Rather than ask too many questions, I ask the witnesses to give feedback on some issues I would like to touch on. We know older members of the Traveller community are a group towards whom the Irish housing stock cannot fulfil its requirements or meet its obligations. It is a vulnerable group, especially the older people. Older members of the migrant community face issues. There is a large migrant community in Ireland, which is ever-growing. There are major challenges and yet they are low in the pecking order, from my experience of meeting members of community.

There is also the issue of older people with disabilities. Over 36% of persons aged 65 or over in Ireland were reported as having a disability in 2016. I know that is some time ago. They are more likely to live alone and not to have a job. They need extra supports. This group is particularly vulnerable. They are more vulnerable when they are elderly. Older women in Ireland are disproportionately likely to live alone, going by the statistics provided to us. They are vulnerable people. There are significant challenges in getting suitable housing for the five groups I have mentioned living in parts of rural Ireland compared with those in urban Ireland. It is a problem everywhere, but it is a bigger problem in rural Ireland.

I flagged those five groups. I do not doubt the witnesses recognise that through their own work, but what are we doing for these groups? How can we bring in extra, focused or targeted measures that will address older persons with disabilities, older women living on their own, older members of the migrant community and older members of the Traveller community? There is an added problem in rural Ireland. Are there focus groups? What do the witnesses think should happen? What is happening behind the scenes to focus on these groups?