Garret Ahearn (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Today, I had the wonderful opportunity of having more than 30 members from the Cashel retirement group come to Leinster House. The Cathaoirleach was kind enough to meet them. I promised I would raise two issues which they asked me to bring up. It relates to things important to them locally in Cashel and nationally for older people. The first is an update on the 60-bed nursing unit in Cashel. This is an important development being built in Cashel. It is in the capital plan. It is in the pre-planning stage at the moment with the HSE. It is on a site on Palmer's Hill. We are at a point where we cannot delay things. It is important that we get an update on that because it is an important development for Cashel. The mayor of Cashel, Declan Burgess, has been very vocal on that matter over the past number of years.

The other request, about which they all spoke, which is interesting not for today but for the future, is having a Minister for older people with no added attachments to the role. The Minister of State, Deputy Butler, has played a key role in her portfolio as Minister of State with responsibility for older people.She also has the mental health portfolio, which is equally important.

We all know now that we are an ageing population. Over the past ten years, the average age of people has increased by two years because of good health and a good way of living. That brings about challenges from a Government perspective in terms of quality of life, how we change the dynamic of living and ageing and what the Government can do. The ask from the retirement group, and retirement groups in Ireland generally, is that future Governments consider the challenges for older and retired people across the country and that that be reflected from a Government perspective by having a Minister of State with responsibility for older people, without any additional portfolios. What needs to be done requires a whole-of-government approach, in terms of town planning, development, retirement homes and things like that. Many things need to be done to protect people in the community. The proposal put forward is an interesting one to develop.