Ireland is running out of time to prepare for an ageing population, according to Nursing Homes Ireland (NHI).

The body has written to Taoiseach Micheál Martin calling on the Government to convene a national dialogue on ageing “without delay”.

The population aged 85 and over will grow by 162% by 2045, while more than one million people will be aged over 65 by the end of this decade, according to Department of Health projections.

“Ireland is sleepwalking into one of the biggest social and healthcare challenges in its history,” Chief Executive of Nursing Homes Ireland Tadhg Daly said at its annual conference.

“We know exactly what is coming, yet we are still not planning with the ambition and scale required.

“The clock is ticking, and we must forward plan instead of simply hoping the necessary infrastructure, care capacity, and support services will somehow appear,” he said.