Ireland is on the precipice of a seismic demographic transition that remains largely unaddressed in the current political landscape, according to a series of urgent warnings issued by Age Action, the state’s leading advocacy organization for older people. As the country prepares for the 2025-2029 government term, the organization has highlighted a critical lack of long-term planning among major political parties to accommodate a rapidly ageing population. Dr. Nat O’Connor, Senior Policy Adviser at Age Action, has underscored that while the number of citizens aged 60 and older is set to swell by hundreds of thousands over the coming decades, the infrastructure required to support them—ranging from healthcare and housing to social protection—is currently inadequate and lacks a coherent roadmap for development.
The Scale of Ireland’s Demographic Evolution
The statistics defining Ireland’s demographic future are stark. Currently, there are over 1.1 million people in Ireland aged 60 or older. However, within the lifetime of the next government (2025–2029), this cohort is expected to increase by an additional 135,000 people. This includes a significant rise of 47,000 individuals aged 80 and older, a group that typically requires more intensive health and social care supports.
Looking further ahead to 2044, the projections become even more profound. In just twenty years, Ireland will have 757,000 more people aged 60 and older than it does today, including an additional 252,000 people aged 80 and older. This shift represents one of the most significant social transformations in the history of the state. Despite these clear projections, Age Action argues that the political system is failing to prepare. While ageing is frequently mentioned in party manifestos, Dr. O’Connor notes a distinct "lack of urgency" in addressing the structural changes required to meet the needs of an older population. The time required to build hospitals, train specialized geriatric healthcare professionals, and retrofit the national housing stock means that decisions made today will dictate the quality of life for millions of citizens two decades from now.
Institutional Oversight: The Call for a Commissioner for Ageing
A central pillar of Age Action’s advocacy is the establishment of a Commissioner for Ageing and Older Persons. This proposed office would be an independent body with a legal framework and a dedicated budget, designed to ensure that the rights of older people are protected and that government policy remains focused on the demographic transition.
The proposal draws inspiration from successful models in Northern Ireland and Wales, where such commissioners act as champions for older citizens, investigating systemic failures and advising the government on age-friendly policies. Age Action reports that this proposal is particularly popular among older persons in Ireland, many of whom feel increasingly marginalized or ignored in current political processes. Currently, Ireland lacks a centralized body or office responsible for the oversight of ageing-related issues, leading to a fragmented approach where responsibility is split across various departments such as Health, Social Protection, and Housing. A Commissioner would fill this gap, providing a cohesive voice and ensuring that "age-proofing" becomes a standard part of all legislative developments.
Economic Security and Pension Reform
The economic stability of older persons has been severely tested by the recent cost-of-living crisis. Inflation has significantly eroded the purchasing power of the State Pension, pushing many older people toward or below the poverty line. Unlike those in the workforce, older people often have limited or no opportunities to supplement their income, making them uniquely vulnerable to price fluctuations in essential goods like food, heating, and healthcare.
To address this, Age Action is calling for a fundamental shift in how the State Pension is managed. The organization is demanding that the government pass legislation to benchmark and index the State Pension. Specifically, they propose that the pension rate should be set at a minimum of 34% of total average earnings. This mechanism would ensure that as the economy grows and wages rise, the pension keeps pace, preventing older people from falling into relative poverty. Benchmarking is already a standard practice in several other European jurisdictions, providing a level of financial certainty that the current system of ad-hoc budgetary increases fails to deliver.
Reforming the Workforce: Abolishing Mandatory Retirement
As life expectancy increases and the health of the older population improves, the practice of mandatory retirement has come under intense scrutiny. Age Action describes mandatory retirement—where employees are forced to leave their jobs upon reaching a certain age, often 65—as a "prevalent ageist practice."
The organization is calling for the abolition of these clauses to allow individuals the choice to remain in or re-enter the workforce. This is viewed as a necessary step toward eliminating legally permitted age discrimination. Beyond the individual right to work, there is a broader economic argument for this reform; as the dependency ratio shifts, retaining the skills and experience of older workers will be vital for national productivity. Age Action asserts that retirement should be a choice based on individual circumstances and ability, rather than an arbitrary chronological cutoff.
Healthcare and the "Ageing in Place" Model
The pressure on Ireland’s healthcare system is well-documented, but the demographic shift will exacerbate these challenges if structural changes are not accelerated. Age Action is advocating for a strong, fully universal, and accessible healthcare system that is tax-funded and free at the point of use. This aligns with the broader goals of Sláintecare, Ireland’s ten-year plan for health reform, but Age Action emphasizes that the implementation must be faster to keep pace with the growing number of older patients.
Furthermore, there is a growing demand for policies that support "ageing in place." This concept focuses on ensuring that older people can remain in their own homes and communities for as long as possible, rather than being moved to institutional care. Achieving this requires:
- Universal Design: Ensuring all new housing builds adhere to universal design principles, making them accessible for people with mobility issues.
- Renter Protections: Specific supports for older persons in the private rental sector, who face unique vulnerabilities regarding security of tenure and affordability.
- Care Strategy: A human rights-based care strategy that harmonizes home care options and ensures consistent standards of support across the country.
Addressing the Digital Divide and Climate Justice
In an era where services are increasingly moving online, a significant portion of the older population faces digital exclusion. Whether due to a lack of skills, lack of infrastructure in rural areas, or the cost of technology, many older people are being "locked out" of essential services. Age Action has called for a prohibition on "digital-only" services for publicly funded entities. They argue for a rights-based approach where traditional alternatives, such as over-the-counter and telephone services, remain adequately resourced and available.
Simultaneously, the organization is highlighting the intersection of ageing and climate change. Older people living in poorly insulated homes are at a higher risk of fuel poverty as energy costs rise and the transition to a green economy continues. Age Action proposes an "Energy Guarantee for Older Persons" payment. This targeted support would assist those on lower incomes or in inefficient housing, framing the issue as one of "climate justice" to ensure that the costs of the environmental transition do not fall disproportionately on the elderly.
International Human Rights and National Strategy
On the global stage, Age Action is pushing for the Irish government to support the introduction of a UN Convention on the Rights of Older Persons. Advocates argue that existing international human rights frameworks do not sufficiently address the specific forms of discrimination and vulnerability faced by older people. A dedicated UN convention would clarify the obligations of states to protect these citizens and provide a universal standard for treatment.
Domestically, the call for a new, comprehensive, all-of-government National Ageing Strategy remains the overarching objective. The previous National Positive Ageing Strategy, launched in 2013, is viewed by many as having lacked the necessary funding and implementation mechanisms to effect real change. Dr. O’Connor has stated that with a multi-party government being the most likely outcome of the upcoming election, it is essential that all parties commit to a refreshed strategy that includes implementation plans for every relevant state agency.
Conclusion: A Test for the Next Government
The "ten asks" put forward by Age Action for the general election represent a comprehensive blueprint for a society that values its older members and prepares for the reality of its future. From pension indexing to the abolition of mandatory retirement and the appointment of a dedicated Commissioner, these proposals seek to move Ireland away from a reactive, crisis-managed approach to ageing toward a proactive, rights-based framework.
As the election campaign intensifies, the response of the political parties to these demands will be a significant indicator of their readiness to lead through the demographic transition. Without a clear and urgent commitment to these structural reforms, Age Action warns that the state will continue to fail its older citizens, leaving them vulnerable to poverty, isolation, and inadequate care in a rapidly changing world. The demographic shift is no longer a distant projection; it is a current reality that requires immediate and sustained political action.
