ALONE Submission to the National Development Plan of Ireland to 2035
ALONE has submitted input to the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation on the consultation for the National Development Plan for 2026-2035. This new plan will seek to inform how funding is allocated to improve infrastructure – especially in energy, water, transport and health digitalisation in Ireland.
In our submission, ALONE emphasises the need to focus on specific housing for older people, the growing risk of energy poverty and further investment into older person’s health services.
This submission recommends that the Department invest in social housing that is built with universal design and invest in Housing with Support to reduce pressure on residential care and hospitals for a healthier, more secure older population.
Additionally, ALONE asserts that the “support” element of Housing with Support needs separate investment to ensure adequate levels of care, as well as additional investment in home support to address long waiting lists, a national action plan on loneliness, and further investment in community-based rehabilitation and respite care beds to meet growing demand.
Finally, ALONE has asked for investment in the Action Plan to Combat Energy Poverty to ensure older people have access to emergency financial support for utilities over the winter.
