Tánaiste to open first Irish centre for aging

Tánaiste and Minister for Health Mary Harney is today opening the first ever centre in Ireland dedicated to preparing the nation for our growing elderly population.

By 2050, one in four Irish people will be aged over 65, compared to the current figure of one in 10.

The situation is more serious in rural areas where one in three people are already over 65.

The €3m Galway centre will advise the Government on the best strategies to deal with this.

“The younger population now is the older population in 20-30 years,” said Professor Eamonn O'Shea, the director of the new centre.

“So in a sense, we are preparing for our own futures.”