Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy has identified a very serious problem and one which my Department is examining. That is why I established the senior alert scheme with funding of €2.7 million. The UK recently appointed a Minister for loneliness, which shows that this is not just an Irish but also a European problem. The Deputy is quite correct. That is why we have active retirement groups, men's sheds, the Irish Countrywomen's Association, ICA, and other such organisations. Many organisations are being funded by my Department at a national level to make sure they establish schemes to try to help and support people living alone. In the past, many groups kept an eye on elderly people. People are busier now and do not have the time to do so. More people are lonely now and all they are looking for is somebody to talk to and make contact with them. I will talk to all of the community groups, particularly national organisations, when allocating funding. I will take this point up with them. I would like them to consider the schemes they could put in place to try to visit and support people who are living alone and are isolated.

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