Minister for Mental Health and Older People announces doubling of funding for national Meals on Wheels network

The Meals on Wheels network provided 2.7 million meals to over 56,000 people last year

Minister for Mental Health and Older People, Mary Butler TD, today announced the doubling of funding for national Meals on Wheels organisations from over €3 million in 2022 to over €6 million this year. Since its establishment, the Meals on Wheels service has been an invaluable resource in helping older people to maintain their health and independence through the provision of healthy meals as a wraparound support in our communities. The social benefits both to the person themselves and the wider community is clear, with the service proving itself to be an important resource through the years, in many rural communities, in particular.

There are currently 312 Meals on Wheels organisations in operation across the country delivering on average 239,000 meals to 19,000 people each month.

Minister Butler, said:

“I am really pleased to announce the doubling of funding to our national network of Meals on Wheels organisations to over €6 million this year. As we know, the service is about much more than simply a hot, nutritious meal, and is a link to the community and a friendly and caring face each day.”

Minister Butler, continued:

“I always describe the Meals on Wheels service as ‘more than just a meal’. Supporting the expansion and increased availability of this service has been a key focus for me since I took office as it is my view that this service is one of the cornerstones of community supports. This wraparound service benefits not only the older person themselves but also their families by providing peace of mind that their loved ones have a friendly face visiting them regularly. This service supports older people to continue to live in their own homes for as long as possible which is a key priority for me and for the Government.

“This service forms part of the triangle of supports of home care, day care and meals on wheels – including dementia-specific supports – which are a key factor in supporting older people to age well in their own homes and communities. This is why the funding allocation for these areas has increased every year since the formation of this Government.”

Minister Butler, concluded:

“Most importantly, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the Meals on Wheels providers – many of them volunteers – up and down the country for their time and hard work to deliver this essential service. I encourage anyone that thinks they, a family member or a neighbour might benefit from this fantastic service to reach out and find their local partner organisation.”

Notes to editor:

The National Meals on Wheels Network was established in 2015 under the umbrella of Irish Rural Link and launched its website and an interactive map of over 260 Meals on Wheels providers in September 2021.
The Network today has 312 providers detailed on the map and supports these providers with the practical sharing of information, training and networking, but more importantly gives them the opportunity to have their voices heard to ensure their continued work to design a country-wide model which supports clients to live independently in their own homes.
The National Meals on Wheels Network https://mealsonwheelsnetwork.ie/ launched by Irish Rural Link makes it very easy to find a local Meals on Wheels service in a locality.