Up to the end of August this year 179 people who are single have applied for accommodation in Meath County Council’s area, Independent Cllr Nick Killian told a meeting of the council. Ninety four were between 40 and 65 and 15 were over 65. Over the past few months he had increased enquiries from people who were over 55. They were losing out because landlords were selling up, among other reasons. Yet there was a dichotomy between the Government’s policy and Age Friendly Ireland.
Cllr Kilian said that at a recent briefing for councillors from Age Friendly Ireland, that organisation’s policy was for two-bedroomed accommodation for older people. “I do know that the Department is saying ‘one bed’. We have to have this changed at national level – this is something that needs to be amended. We have elderly people over the age of 65, I had two lads of 77 and 75. They need assistance. For health and security, we need two-bed houses for elderly people.”
