Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is. I know people in their 80s who have received awards at these ceremonies. We have to admit that the percentage of their peers in this age group who are engaging with technology and with the digital age is quite small. Older people who are active in their communities, retirement groups and day care centres are engaging with society, at least. We all know people who do not engage, however, perhaps because they have limited resources in terms of family members looking after them. These people, who are found in urban and rural parishes, are becoming further isolated. Some of them are completely isolated.

There should be a targeted and proactive programme to put people at ease. Everything can be checked online nowadays but many vulnerable people who need information have no idea where to go to find it because they do not engage in that way with society.

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