A major, decade-long €29 million survey on ageing in Ireland will begin this week, involving a representative cohort of 8,000 people in the State over 50.

The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing is being carried out by Trinity College Dublin in collaboration with a number of other universities and institutes. It will involve recording information on participants’ health, social and economic circumstances every two years for a decade.

By 2036 one in five Irish people will be over 65 years of age, with the greatest increase being in those over 80. The study is intended to help solve the issues Ireland will face as the population lives longer.