ALONE calls for clear targets and action on loneliness in updated strategy

28th May 2026: ALONE, the national organisation supporting older people to age happily at home or in their local community, today said that the Government’s new Roadmap for Social Inclusion does not go far enough to address poverty and social exclusion among older people, despite the latest data showing that 122,425 older people in Ireland are living in poverty.  

The Roadmap, launched this week, sets out a five-year plan to reduce poverty and improve social inclusion. However, it does not include specific targets for reducing poverty among older people or those living alone — meaning progress for this group may not be properly measured or addressed 

Around 30% of older people living alone are living in poverty, compared to 15% of all older people, highlighting the higher costs and risks associated with living alone.  In 2025, ALONE supported more than 46,500 older people nationwide. Many are dealing with a combination of challenges, including poor health, housing difficulties and financial pressure 

Older people experience social exclusion in a variety of ways, including in relation to finances, social relations, local communities, and access to services. However, ALONE highlighted that despite having the highest rate of loneliness in the EU, the new Roadmap does not include a commitment to develop a national action plan on loneliness, which had been included in the previous Roadmap.  

ALONE also expressed disappointment that key commitments from the previous roadmap have not been carried forward. While the earlier roadmap included a commitment to benchmark the State Pension, the new roadmap only commits to benchmarking informing the annual Budget process.  

The organisation did, however, welcome commitments related to expanding the provision of services to help older people to stay living in their own homes and communities for longer. ALONE also welcomed commitments relating to transport and digital literacy, which have the potential to improve access and connection for older people if delivered effectively.  

Seán Moynihan, CEO of ALONE, said: 
“Poverty, loneliness and poor health are deeply connected, and that is what we are seeing every day in our work. Older people are not dealing with one issue in isolation, but a combination of challenges that impact their ability to live well at home.   This roadmap is an important step, but without clear targets and a coordinated approach, particularly on loneliness, it does not fully reflect the scale of what older people are facing.”  

ALONE is calling on Government to strengthen the roadmap with clear, measurable actions that ensure older people are not left behind. This includes setting specific targets to reduce poverty among older people, progressing pension benchmarking, and delivering a coordinated national response to loneliness.