I welcome the opportunity to make a statement on older persons. This is a key issue for the Government because it is important that we start planning for aging in Ireland and ensure that we make it a positive experience. There is none of us here who will not experience the aging process and it is important that with advance knowledge of the extent to which our population will age, we put in place proper policies and do the necessary planning to support that. 

In 2002 the proportion of Ireland’s population aged 65 years and over was 11.1% but, according to population projections prepared for the National Council on Aging and Older People, this proportion will rise to between 14.8% and 15.3% by 2021. The number of Irish people aged 80 and over is projected to increase quite steeply, from 100,583 in 2002 to 137,305 in 2021. 

I was in discussions with the Age Action Ireland group before this debate just to get their views on what they felt were the priorities in terms of the delivery of services for older persons. They emphasised the area of community care and the fact that, from their point of view, the Government has every reason to support and develop community care services for older people. They pointed out that for every €1 spent on community care, €2 is spent on residential care, and also that many older persons who have been surveyed want to remain and be cared for at home. Unfortunately, access to community care at present is a little like a lottery, they argue, depending on what part of the country an older person is living in. In certain parts of the country the services are quite satisfactory but in other parts they leave much to be desired. 

The issue of rising fuel price was also highlighted by Age Action Ireland as an area of major concern. As the House will be aware, ESB and Bord Gáis have made an application to the energy regulator to increase both fuel and oil prices in this country. Age Action Ireland pointed out that it is far more expensive to live alone than to cohabit and many older persons live on their own, and that the inability to afford adequate home heating can result in premature mortality among older persons. They also pointed out that Ireland has the highest levels of fuel poverty in northern Europe for the category of lone pensioner households. The Irish National Survey of Housing Quality found that older households are more likely to be characterised by having an open fire, with 25% of older households having no central heating. 

An Leas-Chathaoirleach Senator De Búrca has one minute remaining. 

Senator Déirdre de Búrca Age Action Ireland asked that the Government would ensure proper measures are put in place in anticipation of these price rises, and that the next budget might look at the issue of fuel allowance for older persons to match the increases in energy bills.  Age Action Ireland proposed that energy providers could play their part in easing hardship for pensioners by deferring any increased charges until after the budget to complement what the Government can do, and also that energy providers should work to promote weekly payment schemes for low-income customers to help them to budget for the increased cost of fuel during the winter. 

Age Action Ireland also expressed some concern about the fair deal legislation. It pointed out that although the legislation is being prepared for the past 18 months, it as an organisation has not been consulted and has looked for this to occur. I ask the Minister of State, Deputy Hoctor, to indicate whether that might occur or not.

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Seanad Speeches, Speeches by Deirdre