Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy is quite right. We have an ageing population. More than 775,000 people are aged over 65. We must also recognise that, as indicated by the World Health Organization, we have highest life expectancy in the EU at 82.5 years. Every day of the week, we provide myriad supports to older people, such as home care, day care and meals on wheels. A total of 330 day care centres have reopened, 46 dementia-specific day services have also reopened and 56,000 people receive home care every day.

I met with Safeguarding Ireland yesterday. We are moving ahead and will be going ahead to open consultation regarding the issue of safeguarding in September. The Law Reform Commission of Ireland is carrying out work for us on that matter at the moment. We are also moving forward with the commission on care. It will not be completed by the end of this year because there is a major amount of work involved. It will probably take up to two years, and we will do it over several modules. We are moving ahead in the context of statutory home care.

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