James Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I was preparing a long speech so I suppose it is just as well. I welcome the Minister of State to the House and thank my good colleague, Senator Swanick, for bringing this report before us. I am always struck by this issue. One of the most telling and poignant advertisements I have ever seen on a billboard was one pointing out that old age is not a problem, but that loneliness is. The point must be made that it is not only older people who feel lonely. People in a block of apartments full of students can feel every bit as lonely and isolated. The submission from a student which Senator Swanick read into the record is very relevant.

The Minister of State mentioned the Irish Men's Sheds Association, which is a fantastic organisation. Men seem to have more difficulty in getting out and about and meeting with people when they retire. The organisation has found that if two men are put at a bench to work on something, they start to open up and talk. We have great men's sheds in Rush, Lusk, Balbriggan, Skerries, Donabate and Ballyboughal. This is very much to be welcomed.

The Minister of State also mentioned Healthy Ireland. As the person who launched the framework, I know that its many aspects and elements make up a cross-Government initiative. Everything in it feeds into the other parts. As Senator Swanick said, many people will present with depression, the cause of which is isolation and loneliness. They feel down because they have no one to talk to. The old adage that a problem shared is a problem halved is very true.When I was Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, I was struck by the considerable level of voluntarism in the youth sector, from which everyone gains, through younger people helping older people, school initiatives and the sense that they find it rewarding because it is as rewarding to give as it is to receive. It is also enriching because older people have such a wealth of knowledge and, when encouraged to talk, can teach us so much.

I realise I am on borrowed time, but I only wished to allude to the Leader's point last week about the motion in providing for specific types of housing to allow people who would like to move out of their larger houses with three, four or five bedrooms and downsize to a two-bedroom house. Perhaps they might be built using co-operative models because there are many people who wish to live together. As I said, in Skerries, 50 people met and gathered by themselves. The Government should help people to help themselves. If they could be offered the same terms and conditions and benefits under the co-operative model as the approved housing bodies, they would build the houses themselves. When they are all together, there can be passive observation, that is, if Johnny has not been seen outside for two days or Mary has not had a visitor for a week, a visit can be arranged.

I commend the report. As others said, it is only the beginning, but tús maith, leath na hoibre.