Only recently have the needs of older people been addressed in relation to ICT, with the growing awareness of issues of inclusion raised by the information society, access to public information and changes in the labour market. A major challenge which Ireland now faces is the need to meet labour and skills shortages to underpin and sustain economic development, and to equitably distribute the benefits of economic success to ensure that employment opportunities and participation in society are open to all. Therefor one of the key issues to be addressed is to find ways of retaining and attracting older people into work. This will require that older people have the necessary skills, such as IT, to exploit job opportunities. A white paper states that strategies for active ageing stress the critical importance of learning as a key tool for coping with change. Adult education can play an important role in active ageing by providing, for example, ICT training particularly for those whose access to information and communication might be otherwise restricted.
A number of lobby groups for older people are active in Ireland.
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