Demographic projections for Ireland suggest that by 2011 the number of people aged over 65 will have almost doubled to an estimated 767,300, and will constitute 16.4% of the population. This is a factor of major significance in planning for the provision of acute hospital services into the future, and will clearly have an impact on budget levels and funding. We are looking at the impact of an ageing population on other areas of the economy. Demand for health care is increasing, related to better education, increased expectations, economic prosperity and technological advances in health care, permitting earlier and improved diagnosis and treatment. Many successful medical interventions are now made in middle years, which yield longer life expectancy but also, typically, the onset of further illness later in life.