Report finds loneliness is damaging to health and wellbeing of older adults, the loneliest of whom had poorer quality of life and health

Rise in commercial stamp duty to help cover cost of more care hours, gardaí and allowances

‘I am embarrassed and yes I am apologising for that on a daily basis,’ admits Jim Daly

Rapidly ageing Irish population requires care staff, cash injection and better system

Fianna Fáil pledges to end two-tier pay system for hospital consultants appointed since 2012 if it leads the next government

Acute hospitals face ‘horrendous’ winter if ‘Aussie flu’ hits Ireland, conference hears

Simon Harris has a ‘diary issue’ that prevents him addressing the IHCA on Saturday

As a west Cork TD ‘it was becoming very difficult for me to spend time with my family’

Counties Monaghan and Cavan record highest rates as men account for 80pc of cases

Admission delays as nursing home scheme struggles to function within €985m budget

HSE says delays for entry to the scheme have risen to an average of six or seven weeks

HSE data shows €200m wasted yearly over lack of step-down care, says Sinn Féin TD

Delay under scheme is worst in Dublin where 195 people are awaiting nursing home places

Psychiatrists and psychologists needed on prison staffs, Minister says

Minister of State Jim Daly was advised it was “wholly inappropriate” to send people with severe mental illness to Cloverhill Prison

Lengthy stays due to lack of home-help hours, care packages, respite support, says TD

Mental Health Commission report finds that ‘too often’ facilities are ‘dirty and smelly’

The Government admits it is struggling to meet demand for home care

‘No freeze on provision of home help hours’ Minister for Older People insists

Minister plans to allow interest rate rise on personal loans despite Cabinet opposition

Three-year cap on assets claimed from family home to be extended to farm or business

Psychiatric Nurses Association sees no evidence of hiring and retention issues easing

Audit shows more than half of delayed discharges in some areas are refusing to leave

€3 million fund initiative to deal with ‘most unrecognised health crisis in a generation’

Parents face tough battles with boards of management over their children’s wellbeing

Majority of calls to charity relate to mental health, isolation and family issues

Staff shortages lead most consultants to believe hospitals unable to sustain service levels

Marymount letter to Minister for Health blames pay restoration and seeks extra funds

HSE reply to TD indicates initial price of €450,000 did not include VAT

Planning is vital if the needs of an ageing population are to be met close to amenities and transport services

Tax breaks being considered to encourage people to move to ‘age-friendly’ housing estates

Few of those at today’s Fianna Fáil ardfheis in Citywest want to wait much longer

HSE blamed for contract with homes that do ‘not recognise reality of costs’

Minister of State says he hope move 'a key enabler' of transformation in health services

Health committee told €85m more will be required to supplement hospitals due to ‘significant reduction’ in private patient income

Reasons include overspending and non-achievement of €150 million savings

Consultant says Marymount hospice indebted to many for Liam Miller fundraising match

Package to include additional transitional care beds and €4m for aids and appliances

Psychiatrist previously based at Slaney House in Wexford says building was ‘in a state’

The percentage of people with a psychological or emotional condition increased by almost 30 per cent between 2011 and 2016