Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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662. To ask the Minister for Health if he has instructed local authorities to establish older people councils; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36316/13]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The National Positive Ageing Strategy, which is the blueprint for age related policy and service delivery across Government in the years ahead, was published in April.

Among other things, this Strategy acknowledges that many of the factors that contribute to a good quality of life for older people and to the creation of communities in which ageing can be a positive experience are influenced at local level.

The Programme for Government commits to the establishment of Older People's Councils by local authorities, where members of the community can raise local concerns or issues of importance.

A number of local authorities have already established older people's fora within the context of the Age Friendly City and County Programme. Currently, there are 16 of our 34 Local Authorities fully operating the programme, a further 4 are ready to go, 9 are in advanced discussions while the remaining 5 will be progressed over the next 6 months.

An assessment of these fora vis a vis the Programme for Government commitment in relation to the structures and functions of Older People's Councils is currently being conducted.