The Minister of State with responsibility for services for older people, Mr Ivor Callely, said yesterday that he had brought senior officials from different Government departments together to see what could be done to enhance these services.
Speaking at Age Action Ireland's annual meeting, at which he launched the organisation's new website - www.ageaction.ie - Mr Callely said that he had a "burning desire to improve the lot of older people".
In addition to focusing on improved health services, he wanted to "bring some co-ordination to the delivery of services by the range of departments and State agencies involved".
He said that the Government was committed to supporting older people who wished to continue living in in their own homes "in independence and dignity" and to providing high standards of extended care when needed.
An additional €77 million had been made available for the ongoing development of services, including home-help services, community support structures, carers' support, day-care services and the Nursing Home Subvention Scheme, he said.
"I intend to use my good relationship with our Minister for Finance to try to continue to get the level of funding secured in recent years," Mr Callely added.
Mr Niall Crowley, chief executive of the Equality Authority, who also addressed the meeting, said that there appeared to be significant political will to change the experience and situation of older people.
However, ageism was so widespread in Ireland as to be almost part of the common understanding of Irish society among both young and old. As a result, identifying and challenging ageism was problematic, despite equality legislation which prohibits discrimination against older people both in the workplace and in the provision of goods and services.
"Older people have emerged as a significant focus under both the Employment Equality Act and the Equal Status Act," he told the meeting.
Mr Crowley also said that a greater awareness of the issues facing older people and of the problem of ageism was needed. "Ageism damages our society and demands urgent change."
Age Action Ireland, an independent network which has been campaigning for the past 10 years on behalf of older people, aims to secure improved quality of life for the elderly.
Yesterday's launching of the organisation's new website is the latest addition to its information and library service.