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Stormont failing to plan for rapidly ageing population, warns commissioner
Overview
Northern Ireland's Commissioner for Older People, Siobhan Casey, has warned that Stormont leaders are failing to plan for a rapidly ageing society. According to a new report, official projections indicate that the number of people aged over 65 will overtake the number of children by 2027, with the over-65 population expected to increase by almost 45% over the next 25 years. Casey criticised the Executive's approach as piecemeal and noted that the Programme for Government contains only a single reference to an ageing population.
Key points
- The Commissioner for Older People, Siobhan Casey, warned that Northern Ireland is planning for a population from a previous era.
- Projections show the number of people aged over 65 will overtake the number of children by 2027.
- The over-65 population in Northern Ireland is projected to increase by almost 45% over the next 25 years.
- The demographic shift will impact healthcare, housing, public transport, and workplaces, requiring coordinated long-term planning.
- The ratio of pensioners to workers is projected to jump by nearly 36% by mid-2049, straining the tax base.
- Casey described the inclusion of only one reference to an ageing population in the Programme for Government as 'hugely disappointing'.