Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)

I am pleased to have an opportunity to speak on issues relating to the provision of services for older people and to outline what the Government is doing to meet the needs identified for this group. Significant progress has been made in terms of the growth in funding available for this sector in recent years, which is indicative of the Government's commitment to the ongoing development of health funded services for older people.

I want to demonstrate the Government's commitment to the development of a comprehensive range of services for older people. I am full of admiration and greatly impressed by the range of activities of older people networks, activities of which promote positive ageing in many different ways in our communities. I also wish to acknowledge the extraordinary contribution that older people make to society. While old age has been associated with dependency, the vast majority of older people are healthy and independent for whom mature age can offer a new lease of life. They are no different from other age groups in so far as we all need to have a sense of control over our lives and the means to participate in society.

There has been an enormous sea change in the level and provision of services and additional resources made available in recent years. My priority, as Minister of State with responsibility for services for older people, is to ensure the issues facing older people are addressed with a view to providing improved services benefiting an older population whose contribution to Irish society is fully acknowledged by the Government.