Dublin, September 18: The Loneliness Taskforce is concerned that Government is not living up to their commitment to tackle loneliness and are advocating strongly that funding is allocated to this area in this year’s Budget.
The urgent need for this investment comes following an EU Commission research report published in June showing that Ireland has the highest rates of loneliness in the EU. The research showed that 20% of us feel lonely most or all of the time – considerably higher than the EU average of 13% and an advisory earlier this year by the US Surgeon General announcing an epidemic of loneliness and isolation[1].
Furthermore, despite a commitment in the Programme for Government to address loneliness, loneliness has not been allocated to a Unit within the Department of Health; nor has it received specific funding, and the committed-to action plan does not appear to have been started.
“Loneliness has significant negative mental and physical health impacts with costs not only to the individual but to society as a whole,” said a spokesperson for the Taskforce. “If another condition was so strongly associated with mortality and health difficulties, we would work strategically to reduce it across the population – like we do already with smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity. Why has loneliness not received the same response?”
In addition to the Programme for Government, the Government has committed to developing an action plan in various policy documents including the Roadmap for Social Inclusion, and the Healthy Ireland Strategic Plan. The Midterm Review of the Roadmap for Social Inclusion published recently noted the timeline for the action on Loneliness as ‘Ongoing – TBC’; the Healthy Ireland Strategic Plan noted a planned timeline for completion of 2022, which is now significantly overdue.
“Loneliness must be addressed by tackling the root causes at the structural, community and individual level, across all age groups and demographics, and particularly to those cohorts most at risk of loneliness and isolation, including carers, LGBTQ+ people, younger people, people with disabilities and members of the international community residing in Ireland,” continued the Spokesperson. “The Loneliness Taskforce has repeatedly offered our support to the Department of Health to develop an action plan. This offer has not been taken up to date. We cannot understand why there appears to be such reluctance to follow through on a commitment that has already been made. Loneliness requires an action plan, funding, research, and a strategic response to address it.”
The Taskforce is calling for €5 million in funding in Budget 2024 for development of the action plan, , a public campaign, support for organisations combating loneliness, and research among other recommended actions.
A spokesperson for the Loneliness Task force went on to say, “The COVID-19 restrictions have eased, but the isolation and loneliness experienced by many during this period will continue to impact their lives and their health into the future. The Government needs to take action now to help mitigate the worst impacts of loneliness on citizens health and wellbeing and provide €5 million in funding to help combat loneliness. In the context of the overall Budget and the current exchequer surplus, this investment is tiny, and furthermore, it will prove to be a cost-saving measure with more lives lived with real connection to each other and communities.”
They concluded, “The fact that Ireland, where we pride ourselves on the strength of our communities, has the highest levels of loneliness in the EU, is bitterly disappointing and very concerning. This fact must be a driving force for action. We do not want Ireland to be at the top of the league-table for loneliness again.”
About the Loneliness Taskforce
The Loneliness Taskforce is a coalition of organisations and individuals who work to address loneliness. The purpose of the Taskforce is to increase awareness of loneliness and to advocate for policy change to address loneliness at local and national level.
The Loneliness Taskforce is chaired by Dr John Hillery, Chairperson of the Mental Health Commission. Members include; ALONE, Acquired Brain Injury Ireland, Disability Federation of Ireland, Family Carers Ireland, Prof Roger O’Sullivan, The Bamford Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing, Jigsaw, Mental Health Reform, Muintir Na Tíre, Prof Brian Lawlor, Samaritans Ireland, The Alzheimer Society of Ireland, The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing, The National Women’s Council of Ireland. LGBT Ireland.
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. |
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
Shelby Unger
083 060 2419
Volunteer Support Officer
Grainne Kennedy
086 108 2524
Volunteer Support Officer
Vacant
0818 222 024
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
Ciaran Gilligan
083 878 6080
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