We provided our budget submission in advance of Budget 2022 urging the government to take heed of the many calls from civil society that the pandemic should act as a catalyst for real and lasting social change and to ensure that Budget 2022 grasps this opportunity.
“The events of the last 18 months have made all of us reflect on how we want to grow older in Ireland. While the full social, political and economic impacts of Covid-19 remain unknown, it is clear that it has had a devastating impact on the lives of older people,” Karen Horgan, CEO, Age & Opportunity.
Our recommendations for Budget 2022 include measures to address the lasting impact of this episode of ‘benevolent’ or ‘well-intentioned’ ageism which characterised our national response to the Covid-19 global crisis – solidarity among generations on one hand with pervasive labelling of all older people as ‘vulnerable elderly’ on the other.
Our recommendations reflect what we have learned from our participants through our arts, physical activity, lifelong learning and civic engagement programmes, during this last, unprecedented, year in Ireland and are focused on ensuring that the rights of older people to fully participate in all areas of society are restored and enhanced.
