Age Action, Ireland’s leading advocacy organization for older people, has issued a stark warning to political parties ahead of the 2025–2029 government term, highlighting a critical lack of preparation for the country’s rapidly ageing demographic. According to Dr. Nat O’Connor, Age Action’s Senior Policy Adviser, the Irish political system is currently failing to implement the necessary infrastructure and public services required to support an unprecedented increase in the number of citizens aged 60 and older. The organization argues that while political manifestos frequently mention the elderly, they lack the urgency and comprehensive planning needed to address the "demographic transition" that will see hundreds of thousands of additional older people living in Ireland within the next two decades.
The demographic shift is already underway. Currently, there are over 1.1 million people in Ireland aged 60 or older. Projections indicate that during the lifetime of the next government—spanning 2025 to 2029—this cohort will grow by an additional 135,000 people. Most significantly, this includes an extra 47,000 individuals aged 80 and older, a group that typically requires more intensive health and social care support. Looking further ahead to 2044, the numbers become even more transformative; in just twenty years, Ireland will have 757,000 more people aged 60 and older than it does today, including a quarter of a million more people aged 80 and older.
The Scale of the Demographic Transition
The figures provided by Age Action align with broader data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO), which has consistently shown that Ireland has one of the fastest-ageing populations in the European Union. While Ireland has historically enjoyed a "demographic dividend" of a younger population compared to its continental neighbors, that trend is reversing. The life expectancy of the Irish population has increased significantly due to medical advancements and improved living standards, but the state’s infrastructure has not kept pace.
Dr. O’Connor emphasizes that building hospitals, developing integrated care systems, and recruiting the necessary healthcare professionals are processes that take years, if not decades. The organization’s critique centers on the fact that current political cycles—which operate on four-to-five-year horizons—are ill-equipped to handle the long-term planning required for 2044. Age Action asserts that the "lack of urgency" in current party manifestos represents a systemic failure to safeguard the future of the state’s public services.
The Case for a Commissioner for Ageing and Older Persons
One of the central pillars of Age Action’s election platform 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, tasked with ensuring that the rights of older people are protected and that government policy remains focused on demographic realities.
This proposal is modeled on successful implementations in Northern Ireland and Wales. In these jurisdictions, the Commissioner acts as a watchdog, a policy advisor, and a voice for older citizens who often feel marginalized in the political process. Age Action argues that such an office would fill a significant gap in the Irish state apparatus, where there is currently no single entity responsible for the holistic wellbeing of the ageing population. By creating a Commissioner, the government would be held accountable for the delivery of the "National Positive Ageing Strategy," which advocates argue has been underfunded and under-implemented since its inception.
Economic Security and the State Pension
The financial stability of older persons has become a primary concern amid the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. Age Action reports that inflation has severely eroded the spending power of the State Pension, leaving many older people living at or below the poverty line. Unlike the working-age population, many retirees have no means to supplement their income once they have exited the workforce, making them uniquely vulnerable to price fluctuations in energy, food, and healthcare.
To resolve this, Age Action is calling for the benchmarking and indexing of the State Pension. Specifically, the organization demands that the pension rate be legally fixed at a minimum of 34% of total average earnings. Benchmarking would ensure that the pension provides a standard of living that is socially acceptable, while indexing would allow the payment to rise automatically in line with wage growth or inflation. This "simple" solution, as Dr. O’Connor describes it, is already the norm in several other developed nations and would provide the "certainty in older age" that Irish citizens are currently lacking.
Challenging Mandatory Retirement and Ageism
The organization is also taking a firm stand against mandatory retirement, describing it as a "prevalent ageist practice." Currently, many Irish employment contracts include clauses that force employees to retire at 65, even if the individual is willing and able to continue working. Age Action argues that this is a form of legally permitted age discrimination that must be abolished.
By removing mandatory retirement, the state would allow individuals the option to remain in or re-enter the workforce, which would not only support the financial independence of older people but also help address labor shortages in various sectors. This move is seen as a crucial step toward eradicating ageism from Irish society and recognizing the continued contribution of older citizens to the economy and community.
A Comprehensive Ten-Point Plan for the General Election
In preparation for the upcoming general election, Age Action has distilled its requirements into ten specific "asks" directed at all political parties. These points cover healthcare, housing, technology, and human rights:
- Appointment of a Commissioner for Ageing: To ensure fair treatment and dignity.
- Pension Benchmarking: Legislating for the 34% average earnings threshold.
- Abolition of Mandatory Retirement: Ending forced exit from the workforce at 65.
- National Ageing Strategy: A cross-government plan with mandatory implementation by state agencies.
- Universal Healthcare: A tax-funded system that is free at the point of use.
- Energy Guarantee for Older Persons: Targeted payments for those in poorly insulated homes or on low incomes.
- Protection Against Digital Exclusion: Prohibiting "digital only" services and funding traditional alternatives like telephone and in-person desks.
- Human Rights-Based Care Strategy: Expanding and harmonizing care options across the country.
- Ageing in Place: Supporting older renters and enforcing universal design principles for all new housing to ensure homes are accessible.
- UN Convention on the Rights of Older Persons: Supporting international efforts to clarify state obligations toward older people.
Digital Inclusion and the "Rights-Based" Approach
A particularly modern challenge highlighted by Age Action is the trend toward "digital by default" government and private services. As banks, utilities, and state agencies move their operations online, a significant portion of the older population is being left behind. Age Action is calling for a prohibition on "digital only" services, arguing that access to essential services is a fundamental right that should not be contingent on technological literacy or internet access.
While the organization supports funding for digital skills training, it insists that traditional communication channels—such as staffed desks and telephone lines—must be adequately resourced. This ensures that the estimated 25% of older people who do not use the internet are not excluded from participating in society or accessing the benefits and services to which they are entitled.
Housing and the "Ageing in Place" Concept
The Irish housing crisis is often framed as a problem for young first-time buyers, but Age Action highlights its impact on the older generation. The organization is advocating for policies that allow people to "age in place"—meaning they can remain in their own homes and communities as they grow older.
This requires two major policy shifts. First, there must be greater protection for older persons in the private rental sector, who face the threat of eviction and homelessness in a volatile market. Second, all new residential builds should adhere to "universal design" principles. Universal design ensures that homes are built to be accessible for people of all ages and mobility levels, reducing the need for expensive retrofitting or premature transitions into nursing home care.
Political Implications and the Path Forward
As Ireland prepares for a general election where a multi-party coalition is the most likely outcome, Age Action is pressuring all parties to move beyond vague promises. The organization’s review of the six major party manifestos suggests that while ageing is a recognized topic, it is often treated as a peripheral issue rather than a central pillar of national planning.
The call for an "all-of-government" strategy is a demand for a fundamental shift in how the state operates. Age Action argues that ageing is not just a "health issue" or a "social welfare issue," but a demographic reality that affects transport, urban planning, justice, and the economy.
Dr. O’Connor’s conclusion is clear: the political system is currently failing to prepare for a transition that is mathematically certain. The 757,000 additional people over 60 who will be living in Ireland by 2044 are not a hypothetical projection; they are the Irish citizens of today, and their future depends on the legislative groundwork laid by the next government. By calling for a UN Convention on the Rights of Older Persons, Age Action is seeking to anchor these domestic demands in international law, ensuring that the dignity and rights of older people are a permanent fixture of the Irish political landscape.
