Ireland is running out of time to prepare for an ageing population, group warns

Nursing Homes Ireland has warned that the country is running out of time to prepare for an ageing population, and is calling on the Government to act immediately.

Speaking at their annual conference, NHI warned that Ireland is approaching a tipping point in the provision of care and support for its ageing population.

The group said that nursing homes are already operating at a 95% occupancy, with demand for long-term care set to accelerate.

There is a need for action in response to an ageing population, as the Department of Health indicate that our population aged over 85 will grow by 162% by 2045.

Speaking at the conference, NHI CEO, Tadhg Daly, said: “Ireland is sleepwalking into one of the biggest social and healthcare challenges in its history. We know exactly what is coming, yet we are still not planning with the ambition and scale required.

The number of people in Ireland aged over 85 will increase by more than 160% in less than twenty years. That’s a tremendous success story because people are living longer, healthier lives. However, the clock is ticking, and we must plan ahead instead of simply hoping the necessary infrastructure, care capacity, and support services will somehow appear.”

“Today nursing homes are effectively full, and the nursing home sector has experienced a creeping loss of capacity to the system over the past number of years, seriously impacting bed capacity, and more importantly, the care choices available to older people across Ireland. At the same time, the ESRI projects that Ireland needs 1,000 additional nursing home beds every year until 2040.

“While increasing bed numbers is important, the location of these beds should be paramount to the required plan. We are already seeing older people having to leave their community for nursing home care due to capacity constraints, a situation which is having a real impact on residents and families. Every person in Ireland who relies on nursing home care should have the opportunity and choice to do so within their local community.

“The over 500 delegates in attendance also heard that a National Dialogue on Ageing will ensure Ireland develops a shared vision for the services that society wants to see delivered across the entire continuum of care and support. Without this shared vision, the delivery of necessary age-related care and support services will surpass the already staggering projected costs. The Government’s Summer Economic Statement published in July 2026 projects that age-related costs in Ireland, including long-term care, pension, and healthcare costs, will reach €97 billion by 2065 – an increase of €62 billion compared to 2026. compared to 2026.”

CEO Tadhg Daly concluded: “Ageing is not a crisis. It is one of Ireland’s greatest achievements. But failing to prepare for it would be a national policy failure that cannot be countenanced. Let’s seize the opportunity while we still can, to ensure that we support our population to age in whichever way they choose.”