Life-long learning – LLL – needs to be attractive, accessible, affordable and enjoyable for older people. Its value to the individual and for the wider community is unquestionable. Older people have considerable experience and knowledge, and this wealth of skills remains relatively untapped. Certain questions remain to be answered for LLL to be put into practice in any meaningful way. In the recent past, for example, the older community have been denied access to funding on the grounds that they are not economically active. Older people need to be represented directly on the various bodies which carry forward the LLL proposals such as colleges, third level institutions and institutes of technology. The provision of courses should be drawn up in consultation with the older community.