PRESS RELEASE
‘A Connected Ireland’ Report launched in the Royal College of Surgeons today
Dublin, 13th June 2018: The Loneliness Taskforce has launched its report recommending that the Government take action on loneliness in the Royal College of Surgeons (RCSI) today.
The report, titled ‘A Connected Ireland’, recommends that annual funding of €3 million be put towards combating loneliness; responsibility to combat loneliness is allocated to a specific Minister and Government department; a public campaign is undertaken; support is offered to initiatives and organisations which alleviate loneliness as their primary function; an action plan for volunteering is initiated; and Irish-specific research on loneliness is undertaken.
The Loneliness Taskforce was established by Dr. Keith Swanick in collaboration with the CEO of ALONE, Seán Moynihan, to coordinate a response to the epidemic of loneliness and social isolation in Ireland. Members of the Taskforce include Professor John Hillery, Justin McNulty MLA, Professor Brian Lawlor, Dr Eddie Murphy, Professor Roger O’Sullivan, Sabrina McEntee, Sinead Dooley, Anne Lynott and Sean Gallagher.
The Taskforce received more than 300 submissions from the general public, Oireachtas and Northern Ireland Assembly Members, MEPs, NGOs, Local Authorities, Public Participation Networks, and Volunteer Networks across the country, both North and South.
Seán Moynihan, CEO of ALONE said at the launch, “We urge all members of Government not just to read this report, but to act on the recommendations we have made. The submissions to the Taskforce included hundreds of ideas for recommendations to the Government to address loneliness. The level of interest in the work of the Taskforce shows how vital this issue is to the people of Ireland.”
Moynihan continued, “We have recommended that €3 million in funding be provided annually to alleviate loneliness, but this is just the beginning. We need research, campaigning, and support for initiatives which address loneliness to be implemented now and for the foreseeable future. I hope that this conversation and the actions the Taskforce has started will continue well after this initial funding is spent.”
Chairperson of the Loneliness Taskforce, Dr Keith Swanick said, “The goal of reducing unnecessary loneliness and isolation is a challenge, but it is achievable.”
He continued, “As a nation, Ireland is ageing with the percentage of people over 70 growing faster than the rest of the population. It was very evident from the submissions that loneliness is not confined to the old and the rise in single-person households plus the increased pressures on young people are also contributing to the risk of loneliness.”
The report, which lays out a vision for “an Ireland free from loneliness”, was launched by the members of the Taskforce at an event attended by members of the Oireachtas, local authority representatives and members of the NGO sector.
The full report is available here: The Loneliness Taskforce – A Connected Island
ENDS
About ALONE
Established in 1977, ALONE supports older people to age at home. ALONE works with those who have issues with loneliness and social isolation, lack of services, poor health, poverty, homelessness or housing. ALONE provides Support Coordination, Housing with Support, Befriending and Campaigning services to over 1,000 older people nationwide every week. ALONE’s services are quality approved and are delivered 365 days a year.
For more information contact:
Lauren Freir, Limelight Communications, [email protected], 01 668 0600, 087 238 0853
Kathryn Byrne, Limelight Communications, [email protected], 01 668 0600
Cookie | Duration | Description |
---|---|---|
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". |
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional | 11 months | The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". |
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". |
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. |
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". |
viewed_cookie_policy | 11 months | The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data. |
NSRL Line
0818 222 024
Team Manager
Emma Fitzgerald
089 409 0549
Dublin North & East
0818 222 024
Dublin North & East
0818 222 024
Dublin North & East
0818 222 024
Dublin North & East
0818 222 024
Dublin North & East
0818 222 024
Dublin North & East
0818 222 024
Dublin North & East
0818 222 024
Dublin North & East
0818 222 024
Dublin North & East
0818 222 024
Dublin North & East
0818 222 024
Dublin North & East
0818 222 024
Dublin North & East
0818 222 024
Dublin North & East
0818 222 024
Team Manager
Erik Sopon
000 000 0000
Dublin North & East
0818 222 024
Dublin North & East
0818 222 024
Dublin North & East
0818 222 024
Dublin North & East
0818 222 024
Dublin North & East
0818 222 024
Dublin North & East
0818 222 024
Dublin North & East
0818 222 024
Dublin North & East
0818 222 024
Dublin North & East
0818 222 024
Dublin North & East
0818 222 024
Team Manager
Greg O’Reilly
083 3851 221
Dublin North & East
0818 222 024
Dublin North & East
0818 222 024
Dublin North & East
0818 222 024
Dublin North & East
0818 222 024
Dublin North & East
0818 222 024
Dublin North & East
0818 222 024
Dublin North & East
0818 222 024
Dublin North & East
0818 222 024
Dublin North & East
0818 222 024
NSRL Line
0818 222 024
Team Manager
Martina Kinane
087 407 4085
East Clare
0818 222 024
East Limerick and Ballina
0818 222 024
North Limerick City
0818 222 024
North Tipperary
0818 222 024
South Limerick
0818 222 024
South Limerick City
0818 222 024
West Limerick
0818 222 024
Mid West
0818 222 024
Mid West
0818 222 024
Mid West
0818 222 024
NSRL Line
0818 222 024
Team Manager
Toni McCallion
083 062 5854
Ballinteer, Stepaside & Kiltiernan
0818 222 024
Central Wexford
0818 222 024
Churchtown, Clonskeagh, Dundrum & Milltown
0818 222 024
Donnybrook, Ranelagh & Ringsend
0818 222 024
Dun Laoghaire, Dalkey & Loughlinstown
0818 222 024
Foxrock, Carrickmines & Shankill
0818 222 024
North Wexford
0818 222 024
Northeast Wicklow
0818 222 024
Southeast Wicklow (CHN Learning Site)
0818 222 024
Stillorgan, Booterstown & Monkstown
0818 222 024
Dublin & South East
0818 222 024
Dublin & South East
0818 222 024
Dublin & South East
0818 222 024
Team Manager
Lola Fitzgibbon
086 084 1360
Central Kilkenny & South Carlow
0818 222 024
Central Tipperary
0818 222 024
North Carlow
0818 222 024
North Kilkenny & Kilkenny City (CHN Learning Site)
0818 222 024
South East Wexford
0818 222 024
South Tipperary & North Waterford
0818 222 024
Southwest Wexford
0818 222 024
Waterford City
0818 222 024
Waterford City
0818 222 024
West Waterford & Tramore
0818 222 024
Dublin & South East
0818 222 024
Dublin & South East
0818 222 024
Dublin & South East
0818 222 024
Dublin & South East
0818 222 024
NSRL Line
0818 222 024
Team Manager
Anne Crowley
086 168 8188
Ballyfermot & Palmerstown (CHN Learning Site)
0818 222 024
Clondalkin
0818 222 024
Crumlin, Driminagh & Harold’s Cross
0818 222 024
Lucan
0818 222 024
Rathfarnham, Ballyboden & Knocklyon
0818 222 024
Rathmines, Terenure & Templeogue
0818 222 024
South Dublin Inner City
0818 222 024
Tallaght & Firhouse
0818 222 024
Newcastle, Citywest & Saggart
0818 222 024
Dublin & Midlands
0818 222 024
Dublin & Midlands
0818 222 024
Team Manager
Greg O’Reilly
083 385 1221
East Kildare & Blessington
0818 222 024
East Offaly & North Laois
0818 222 024
East West Meath (CHN Learning Site)
0818 222 024
Longford & Central Westmeath
0818 222 024
Northeast Kildare
0818 222 024
Northwest Kildare
0818 222 024
Northwest Kildare
0818 222 024
Offaly
0818 222 024
South Laois
0818 222 024
West & Central Kildare
0818 222 024
West Meath & Offaly
0818 222 024
South Kildare & West Wicklow
0818 222 024
Dublin & Midlands
0818 222 024
Dublin & Midlands
0818 222 024
Regional Head of Service
Name
Phone
NSRL Line
0818 222 024
Team Manager
Lola Fitzgibbon
086 084 1360
Bandon, Carrigaline, Kinsale
0818 222 024
0818 222 024
North Kerry
0818 222 024
Northwest Cork
0818 222 024
West Central Cork
0818 222 024
West Cork
0818 222 024
West Kerry
0818 222 024
South West
0818 222 024
South West
0818 222 024
South Kerry
0818 222 024
Team Manager
Ciaran Gilligan
083 878 6080
Central Cork
0818 222 024
East Central Cork
0818 222 024
East Cork City
0818 222 024
Gurranabraher, Knocknaheeny
0818 222 024
SouthEast Cork City
0818 222 024
South West
0818 222 024
South West
0818 222 024
Northeast Cork
0818 222 024
South Cork City
0818 222 024
Regional Head of Service
Name
phone
NSRL Line
0818 222 024
Team Manager
Michael Purtill
086 014 5831
East Donegal
0818 222 024
Inishowen
0818 222 024
Inishowen
0818 222 024
Leitrim, West Cavan
0818 222 024
East Donegal
0818 222 024
Sligo, North Leitrim, Bundoran
0818 222 024
West Donegal
0818 222 024
West Donegal
0818 222 024
West and North West
0818 222 024
West and North West
0818 222 024
West and North West
0818 222 024
West and North West
0818 222 024
Team Manager
Ciaran Gilligan
083 878 6080
Central Galway, East Galway City
0818 222 024
East Galway, South Roscommon
0818 222 024
North Mayo
0818 222 024
North Roscommon, North-East Galway
0818 222 024
Tuam, Athenry, Loughrea
0818 222 024
West Galway
0818 222 024
West Galway City
0818 222 024
West Mayo
0818 222 024
East Mayo
0818 222 024
West and North West
0818 222 024
West and North West
0818 222 024
West and North West
0818 222 024
Service Manager
Shelby Unger
083 060 2419
Northeast Wicklow
Milltown, Churchtown & Dundrum
Donnybrook, Ranelagh & Ringsend
Volunteer Support Officer
Grainne Kennedy
086 108 2524
Volunteer Support Officer
Vacant
0818 222 024
Service Manager
Ciaran Gilligan
083 878 6080
Tuam, Athenry & Loughrea (CHN Learning Site)
0818 222 024
Service Manager
Kevin White
089 409 0549
Balbriggan, Skerries & Lusk
Vacant
0818 222 024
St. Margaret”s, Finglas & Glasnevin
Maura O’Shea
0818 222 024
Telephone Support Coordinator
Michael Kennedy
086 440 2894
Telephone Support Coordinator
Jacob Shakespeare
Telephone Support Coordinator
Anne Marie mc Allister
086 440 7825
Telephone Support Officer
Vacant
0818 222 024
Telephone Support Officer
Sharon McManus
0818 222 024
Telephone Support Officer
Vacant
0818 222 024
Service Manager
Greg O’Reilly
083 385 1221
North Meath & Ardee
Paula Boyce
0818 222 024
East Meath
John Stillman
0818 222 024
Location tbc
Vacant
0818 222 024
Telephone Support Coordinator
Anne Murphy
086 035 3904
Volunteer Support Officer
Frances Sheerin
086 108 5965
National Support Line Coordinators
National Support Line Coordinators
National Support Line Coordinators
National Support Line Coordinators
Aoife Callaghan
Sarah kerr
Aoife Callaghan
Bridgeen Coyle
086 032 6801
087 179 3782
086 032 6801
086 014 6732
Service Manager
Natalie Johnson
083 062 5854
South Dublin Inner City
Vacant
0818 222 024
Rathfarnham, Knocklyon & Ballyboden
Vacant
0818 222 024
Newcastle, Citywest & Saggart
Joe Sullivan
0818 222 024
Northwest Kildare
Annemarie Molloy
Patricia Scanlon
086 013 7256
Service Manager
Lola Fitzgibbon
086 084 1360
Southwest Wexford
Natalia Gembicka
086 014 4915
Service Manager
Siobhan Walsh
086 084 1674
Northeast Cork
Vacant
0818 222 024
Central Cork
Veronica Reidy
Clare Seymour
086 075 3867
086 107 9433
Telephone Support Coordinator
Geraldine Commins
086 013 1570
Volunteer Support Officer
Mairead Egan
087 253 1380
Volunteer Support Officer
Maria O’Connor
Volunteer Support Officer
Tracey Kearney
086 440 9893
Service Manager
Martina Kinane
087 407 4085
Caroline Bradley
West Limerick
Margaret Collum
Volunteer Support Officers
Aoife Dennehy
086 211 5307
Volunteer Support Officers
Vacant
0818 222 024
Service Manager
Frances Browne
087 751 6087
Inishowen (CHN Learning Site)
Bronagh Doyle
086 171 6984
Inishowen (CHN Learning Site)
Gráinne Hargan
West Donegal
Emma Kennedy
086 720 8686
Donegal inishowen
Vacant
0818 222 024
Telephone Support Coordinator
Deirdre Browne
074 932 1598
Telephone Support Coordinator
Catherine Reilly
National Support & Referral Line Coordinator
Kathleen Bonner