In fulfilment of the commitment in the Programme for Government: Our Shared Future (2020), the government has established an independent Commission on Care for Older People. The Commission is chaired by Professor Alan Barrett (Chief Executive Officer, Economic and Social Research Institute) and is comprised of independent experts. It is supported by a secretariat from the Department of Health.
The Commission is charged with examining the provision of health and social care services and supports for older people and with making recommendations to the government for their strategic development. Subsequently a cross-departmental group will be established under the auspices of the Commission to consider whether the supports for positive ageing across the life-course are fit-for-purpose and to develop a costed implementation plan for options to optimise these supports.