Loneliness Taskforce condemns Government for lack of action
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The Loneliness Taskforce has criticised the Government for “not living up to their commitment to tackle loneliness”, while repeated offers of support to the Department of Health have been brushed aside.
The taskforce said there is an urgent need for investment in the upcoming budget after an EU Commission report showed that Ireland has the highest rates of loneliness in the EU.
The report published in June found that 20% of Irish participants feel lonely most or all of the time. This compares with the EU average of 13%.
“The fact that Ireland, where we pride ourselves on the strength of our communities, has the highest levels of loneliness in the EU, is bitterly disappointing and very concerning. This fact must be a driving force for action. We do not want Ireland to be at the top of the league table for loneliness again,” a spokesperson said.
The taskforce is a coalition of organisations and individuals including ALONE, Acquired Brain Injury Ireland, Disability Federation of Ireland, and Family Carers Ireland.
The taskforce said despite a commitment in the Programme for Government to address loneliness, it has not received specific funding and it has not been allocated to a Unit within the Department of Health.
“The Loneliness Taskforce has repeatedly offered our support to the Department of Health to develop an action plan. This offer has not been taken up to date.
“We cannot understand why there appears to be such reluctance to follow through on a commitment that has already been made. Loneliness requires an action plan, funding, research, and a strategic response to address it,” a spokesperson said.
The taskforce is calling for €5m in funding in Budget 2024 for the development of the action plan, a public campaign, support for organisations combating loneliness, and research.
It said loneliness must be addressed by tackling the root causes at a structural, community and individual level, particularly to cohorts most at risk of loneliness and isolation, including carers, LGBTQ+ people, younger people, people with disabilities and members of the international community residing in Ireland.
A spokesperson said the covid-19 restrictions have eased, but the isolation and loneliness experienced by many during this period will continue to impact their lives and their health into the future.
“The Government needs to take action now to help mitigate the worst impacts of loneliness on citizens’ health and wellbeing and provide €5m in funding to help combat loneliness,” they said.
The spokesperson said, in the context of the overall Budget and the current exchequer surplus, the funding request is “tiny”.
“Loneliness has significant negative mental and physical health impacts with costs not only to the individual but to society as a whole.
“If another condition was so strongly associated with mortality and health difficulties, we would work strategically to reduce it across the population — like we do already with smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity. Why has loneliness not received the same response?” a spokesperson said.