David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 706: To ask the Minister for Health the steps events, policies and so on being taken by him throughout 2012 to promote the European Year of Active Aging; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8136/12]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Following a co-decision of the European Parliament and of the Council of Ministers, 2012 has been designated as the European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations. The Year provides an opportunity to reflect on how Europeans are living longer and staying healthier than ever before — and to realise the opportunities that represents. The Year also places a focus on solidarity between generations (or "intergenerational solidarity") which refers to the mutual support and cooperation between different age groups in order to achieve a society where people of all ages have a role to play in line with their needs and capacities, and can benefit from their community's economic and social progress on an equal basis.

The aim of the Year is to encourage and support the efforts of Member States, their regional and local authorities, social partners, civil society and the business community to mobilise demographic opportunities, and to embrace the contribution that older people can make to society by promoting active ageing. The Department of Health is co-ordinating the Year for Ireland, and a National Coordinator from the Office for Older People within the Department has been appointed.

While responsibility for co-ordinating the European Year falls to the statutory authorities, my Department recognises that a joined-up partnership approach working with the NGO, community and voluntary sector and with other public sector organisations, to ensure the input and involvement of a broad range of relevant stakeholders will be key to achieving the objectives of the Year outlined in the official decision.

Ireland has a strong voluntary and community sector and can boast considerable expertise among the many NGOs working with and for older people and on matters relating to intergenerational solidarity. The invaluable work carried out within these sectors is supported and encouraged by the Irish Government, which recognises the need for a joined-up partnership approach in the provision of services to people of all ages within the statutory, voluntary/community and NGO sectors.

To build on forging these partnerships, a National Steering Group for the Year has been established which draws together a range of key stakeholders who are willing to work in partnership arrangements, both with each other and with my Department to identify existing activities, to suggest alternative ways of doing things and to develop new ideas within the constraints of limited resources. In the main, the membership of the Steering Group is composed of all of the key stakeholders with an interest in ageing and intergenerational solidarity in Ireland.

An ambitious programme of activities, events and initiatives has already been identified for the Year by the National Steering Group. The initial National Work Programme will be available shortly on my Department's website. As the Year progresses and awareness builds, it is expected that many additional activities/initiatives will be included in an expanding calendar of events which will be available on the official website for the Year at www.activeageing.ie in the coming days.

The Deputy may wish to note that the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins officially launched the Year in Ireland at a successful conference held in Dublin Castle on 9 February 2012.