Ireland Running Out of Time to Prepare for Ageing Population, Nursing Homes Ireland (NHI) Warns.
Thursday September 24, 2026Ireland Running Out of Time to Prepare for Ageing Population, Nursing Homes Ireland (NHI) Warns.
At its Annual Conference NHI Called on An Taoiseach to convene National Dialogue on Ageing.
Nursing Homes Ireland (NHI) today warned that Ireland is running out of time to prepare for a population that is living longer than ever before. It called on the Government to immediately convene a National Dialogue on Ageing.
At its Annual Conference in Kilkenny, NHI warned that Ireland is approaching a “demographic tipping point” in the provision of care and support for its ageing population. Nursing homes are already operating at 95% occupancy, as demand for long-term care is set to accelerate significantly over the coming two decades.
The call for the immediate convening of a National Dialogue on Ageing comes as Department of Health projections indicate that the population aged 85 and over will grow by 162% by 2045, while more than one million people will be aged over 65 by the end of this decade. The Conference heard that without urgent leadership and planning, Ireland risks facing severe pressures across the continuum of care and support in our health and social care sector.
Speaking at its Annual 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 forward plan 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.
Calling for a National Dialogue on Ageing, NHI CEO, Tadhg Daly, said, “The Government should convene health and social care providers, older people’s organisations, community groups, and civil society in a National Dialogue on Ageing. The question facing Ireland is simple: what kind of country do we want to be for our older people in 10, 20, and 30 years’ time, and what steps are required to achieve this? Whatever the answer, it will require planning and investment across all services including; primary care, day services, home care, independent living, respite care, rehab care, and residential nursing home care. We cannot take a siloed approach to this societal development – meeting the future care and support needs for our older population will require collective discussion and action between all sectors and stakeholders.”
NHI has today written to An Taoiseach Micheál Martin, calling on the Government to convene a National Dialogue on Ageing without delay. NHI Conference delegates heard that a National Dialogue would guide the creation of practical plans and clear accountability, providing for world class infrastructure, care capacity, and support services. Ireland must have a coherent strategy for integrated health and social care, sustainable nursing home capacity, age-friendly communities, equitable access to services, and the elimination of ageism in all its forms.
“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” Tadhg Daly concluded.
ENDS
For Further Information | Ronan Lowther | Policy & Communications Lead NHI | communications@nhi.ie
About Nursing Homes Ireland
Nursing Homes Ireland (NHI) is the national representative body for the private and voluntary nursing home sector, encompassing over 400 nursing homes across Ireland, which provide care to over 27,000 people. Our mission is to actively support and represent our members, enabling them to deliver sustainable, high-quality, choice-led care to their residents. As the voice of nursing home sector, we are dedicated to championing a care-first philosophy. We actively advocate for the rights and well-being of residents, while responding to the evolving needs and challenges faced by our Members as care providers.