Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The opening statement in the Private Members' motion refers to the rights of older people to live in dignity and independence and to age well in their own homes and communities for as long as possible. That is something all of us endorse.

This year, 2012, is the European year for active ageing and solidarity between generations. Together with other member states, the Government has celebrated and promoted positive and active ageing. Currently, Ireland has just above 500,000 people aged 65 years or older, but by 2021 that number is expected to be approximately 775,000. That is an increase of 55% in just 11 years. However, Ireland is one of only two countries of the 34 countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, OECD, that have dedicated Ministers to support policy decisions relating to older people's issues. When this Government took office the fine Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, was given that ministerial responsibility.

This Government is committed to bringing greater coherence to Government planning, policy and service delivery for older people. We are at a very important juncture in terms of future policies and services for older people. Currently, we have the lowest proportion of population aged 65 years and older in the EU, but this will change and now is the time to get our house in order. The expected demographic changes will bring significant challenges but also great opportunities. These challenges can be met successfully and the opportunities fully exploited by planning ahead now, just as we must plan for any change.

The national positive ageing strategy is being developed within the constraints posed by the current fiscal situation. It sets out the strategic direction for future policies, programmes and services for older people. It sets out to establish a common framework for the development of operational plans by Departments and to clarify their objectives relating to older people. It will also involve the development of ongoing mechanisms designed to monitor progress and to identify challenges facing older people in future. A key objective of Government policy has been to support older people to live at home in their communities for as long as possible. This option, the preferred choice of most older people, has been maximised through enhancing the range of HSE services such as home help, home care packages and day and respite care. In addition, the Department, in consultation with the HSE, is currently preparing proposals to ensure that access to community services is provided on a nationally consistent and equitable basis having regard to each person's care needs and means.

The purpose of the national positive ageing strategy is to identify the provisions that must be made and the plans that must be implemented to ensure the best quality of life for older people in Ireland in the future. In that context, a key objective of the new strategy is to help people develop and maintain a positive quality of life as they grow older by encouraging people of all ages to think positively about their own ageing, to plan sensibly for their later years and to facilitate them in adopting the type of lifestyle practices that will have the effect of adding years to their life and life to their years. This means we must maintain, develop and enhance home care front-line services, ensuring older people are facilitated to remain at home. The majority of older people continue to live in the community well into later life. The housing grant for older people administered by local councils has been very effective in improving the standards of living for older people in Ireland. It must continue and be supported.

This Government has given a commitment that anybody who has been assessed as having a service need will have that service provided. The Minister, Deputy James Reilly, recently urged us to use the "get smart" approach. Given that most people wish to remain at home, let us nurture and encourage all of those community services that currently exist. The continuation of home care packages enables a tailored approach to the needs of older people. These home care packages differ from the normal care in the community in that they allow for the provision of enhanced services beyond the normal levels available in a community and can prevent or delay admission to acute hospitals or long-term care.

There are, of course, additional supports available in communities, such as meals on wheels, which I run in two towns in my constituency. Many day and respite care places are offered by wonderful voluntary organisations. Last week I had the pleasure of meeting the Support 4 Older People organisation in Drogheda. It offers a wide range of services and is not financed by the State. We do not give people in the voluntary sector enough credit.

An increase in life expectancy is a product of successful health, economic and social policies. Increasing numbers of old people are an indicator of the successes achieved in that society. Rather than portraying ageing of the population in a negative light, Ireland should develop a strategic framework for the co-ordination of policy reforms to meet the challenges we face. We must ensure that we do not use the fiscal crisis to bring us down, but use it as an overarching strategy to point to the destination at which we wish to arrive. What can be done now, given that we are all agreed that this is where we are heading? Let us be ambitious and work towards making Ireland the best place in which to grow old.

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