Plan for Ireland’s elderly - State-private sector gap is detrimental

YESTERDAY’S Central Statistics Office report on our older population and increasing life expectancy lays some myths to rest but should not be used as an excuse for complacency in the reform of our method of pension provision, health services, nursing home legislation or community-based care for retired people.

The report predicts that the proportion of the population aged 65 or over is expected to increase from 16% in 2006 to 25% in 2026 and from 25% to 37% in the European Union.

Ireland has the lowest proportion — 11% — of its population aged 65 or over in the EU and is below the average of nearly 17%.