Mary Moran (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise awareness of the fact that the period from 1 to 7 October has been designated as both Simon Week and Positive Ageing Week. Simon Week is now in its fifth year. As Members will be aware, the Simon Community continues to do excellent work in tackling homelessness throughout the country. This year it is asking people to "Take a Step for Simon to help tackle homelessness", which can include taking part in a fund-raiser, volunteering or donating time or a service.

Age Action is celebrating ten years of Positive Ageing Week. There is no doubt that in working with and on behalf of older people it is achieving its aim to make Ireland a great place in which to grow older. County Louth, where I live, is setting the pace in the context of recognising the value of older people in society. Last year, for example, it was the first recipient of the award of most age-friendly county. Dundalk, County Louth, is to the fore with regard to the development of products and services for older people. The latter are designed to ensure that those to whom I refer can continue to live full and independent lives for as long as possible. The people who live in the town are very proud of the Netwell centre, which is based in Dundalk Institute of Technology, DKIT. The latter is a world-class facility and it assisted in putting Louth on the map as Ireland's first age-friendly county. Last night I had the pleasure of launching Positive Ageing Week in Dundalk. One of the great success stories in the town - this could be replicated throughout the country - involves Mrs. Ann Egan, who last year organised computer classes at DKIT which were attended by 112 people.