Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 December 2012
303. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health when the National Positive Aging Strategy will be presented to Cabinet and published in view of a recent commitment to publish before end 2012 and numerous previous commitments to present it to Cabinet and publish it in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57520/12]
View answer304. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health his views on whether the failure to publish the National Positive Aging Strategy is resulting in poor policy decisions being taken across Departments that negatively impact upon older people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57521/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 303 and 304 together.
The Programme for Government has committed to completing and implementing the National Positive Ageing Strategy so that older people are recognised, supported and enabled to live independent full lives.
The Strategy will be a high level document outlining Ireland’s vision for ageing and older people and the national goals and objectives required to promote positive ageing. It will be an over-arching cross-departmental policy and implementation framework that will be the blueprint for age related policy and service delivery across Government in the years ahead.
It will set out a common framework for the development of operational plans by a number of Government Departments, which will clearly set out their objectives relating to older people. Mechanisms designed to monitor the implementation of measures contained in operational plans will also be outlined in the Strategy.
The intention of the Strategy is not to propose new service developments and it will not be prescriptive in relation to the specific actions that will be taken by individual Government Departments to promote positive ageing. Rather, it will set the strategic direction for Government policy on ageing into the future by outlining the priority areas requiring action.
A considerable amount of preparatory work has already been completed and consultations with other Departments are ongoing. The drafting of the Strategy will proceed within the Department within the constraints of available staff and other priorities.
