Keith Swanick (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Today I had the privilege of launching "a connected island, an Ireland free from loneliness". I thank all those Oireachtas Members who contributed to this report. In total we received 310 submissions from North and South of the Border, from the elderly and the young, the rich and the poor and from all ethnicities. It truly shows how important this problem is and how it traverses all demographics. I also want to particularly thank Minister of State, Deputy Kyne for attending the launch of the report today. I founded the task force on loneliness in March to help combat the silent epidemic of loneliness which is prevalent in our society. Loneliness is corrosive and has major health, social and economic impacts. It is corrosive to personal health and to society as a whole. I believe we need to turbo charge the debate on loneliness and create awareness of the issue. This change needs to occur from Government down. In the report there are many recommendations and it can be found on lonelinesstaskforce.comand will be distributed to all Oireachtas Members. Some of the recommendations highlighted in the report include an awareness campaign, the adequate funding of NGOs and Ireland-based research. Much of the research surrounding loneliness is based in the UK so we are using UK figures. We need our own Ireland-specific research and we need accountability. I am not calling for a dedicated Minister for loneliness as exists in the UK; Members will be familiar with the fact that Ms Tracey Crouch was nominated as Minister for Loneliness in the UK by Theresa May. However, I do think that the portfolio for loneliness should be attributed to a Minister.It is falling between the stools of social protection and health and the epidemic of loneliness has been lost. I would like to see a Minister of State at the Department of Health taking on the loneliness portfolio. Will the Leader arrange a debate on the issue of loneliness which can have major health and economic impacts? I look forward to having such a debate in the coming months.