Áine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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The Programme for Government 2007-2012 identified the need 'to better recognise the position of older people in Irish society' and committed to develop a National Positive Ageing Strategy to establish the strategic framework for future policies, programmes and services for older people in Ireland. A key function of my office, which was established in 2008, is to develop this Strategy.

A call for submissions on the Strategy was issued in June 2009 and 192 submissions were received from a broad range of stakeholders. The top five priority themes that emerged from the submissions were: health and social care (64%); transport (40%); social inclusion (36%); housing (33%); income and pensions (27%).

In May 2010, I completed a three-month country-wide series of consultation meetings to hear the views of older people, service providers and representative organisations at first hand. These meetings were held in Cork, Sligo, Galway, Kildare, Wexford, Newcastle West, Dundalk, Dublin and Athlone. I also held consultation meetings with a number of NGOs who represent more vulnerable or marginalised older people.

At the public consultation meetings, participants suggested how services/programmes could be improved and have given views on what works well and what could be done differently or in a better way (particularly how service delivery could be enhanced in the light of current resource constraints). The themes that arose during the public consultation meetings are broadly consistent with those outlined in the written submissions received.

The Strategy is being developed by a Cross-Departmental Group (CDG), comprised of officials from 11 Government Departments, the Central Statistics Office and An Garda Síochána, and is chaired by the Director of the Office for Older People. An NGO Liaison Group comprising representatives of twelve national-level non-governmental organisations with an interest in older people's issues and an Expert Advisory Group, which is in the process of being established, will also inform the process. Work to develop the Strategy is being overseen by the Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion. The Strategy is being developed within the constraints posed by the present fiscal situation. It is not the intention that the Strategy will propose new service developments; rather it will set strategic direction for future policies, programmes and services for older people.

A report on the consultation process to highlight the issues which older people and service providers have brought to my attention will be published shortly. It is intended that a draft Strategy will be completed by the end of 2010.