Irish Rural Link and the National Meals on Wheels Network (NMOWN) welcome the Government’s introduction of temporary and targeted measures to reduce fuel prices for households and businesses. However, the community and voluntary sector, in which 317 HSE funded meals on wheels providers operate on a largely volunteer basis, are anxious to hear of any specific support for the sector within this package.
In 2025, over 2.8 million meals were delivered to 228,000 people by 317 HSE funded providers nationwide. The meals on wheels sector are currently overstretched, under-resourced, and reliant on a volunteer base that is rapidly declining post-COVID. The lack of strategic investment threatens the sustainability of a service that is central to community care, hospital discharge pathways, and ageing in place. The absence of any specific supports in this intervention for a sector that delivers essential services to our elderly and most vulnerable is disappointing and worrying for the sustainability of the meals on wheels sector in general.
Tracey Noone, Development Officer for the NMOWN said “the continuous pressures faced by providers daily have now been compounded even further by the current fuel crisis. Government intervention is welcomed, but providers in the community and voluntary sector once again feel left behind. In a recent survey issued to providers, 86% of those surveyed have been affected by the increase in fuel prices. One provider has informed the Network that clients of their meals on wheels service are now attending the day service as it is warmer in the day centre than at home. Another provider quoted - We are a charity that deals with elderly and vulnerable adults so we can't keep putting up our prices. If this situation continues, we will need assistance with the costs of producing and delivering the meals if we want to continue. Another provider stated - we feel that if the Government could provide fuel subsidies, like those provided during Covid, the financial impact on our service provision would be greatly reduced.
The government have committed to supporting the meals on wheels sector and the National Meals on Wheels Network in its Programme for Government. Therefore, the Network is calling on all relevant government departments to explore possible interventions for this vital service”.
Seamus Boland, CEO Irish Rural Link said “We have continuously urged Government to recognise the strategic value of Meals on Wheels. This is a low-cost, high-impact service that deserves to be treated as a core part of our health and social care system, not an afterthought. The measures announced by the Government this week are, once again, short-term. A more sustainable funding model must now be introduced to ensure the service can meet growing demand and adapt quickly to external shocks.
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For further information, please contact (anytime):
Seamus Boland (Chief Executive) 0862491153 or Louise Lennon (Policy and Communications Officer) 0861069244 Tracey Noone (Development Officer NMOWN) 0838453901
About Irish Rural Link:
Irish Rural Link represents the interests of locally based rural groups in disadvantaged and marginalised rural areas by highlighting problems, advocating appropriate policies, sharing experiences and examples of good practice. It has a membership of nearly 600 rural community groups dedicated to sustainable rural development and represents rural communities at a national and international level.
About National Meals on Wheels Network:
The National Meals on Wheels network was established under the umbrella of IRL in 2015. The aim of the network is to provide a local, community led professional facility to assist people who require services to maintain optimum health, independence with strong life extending possibilities.