This is our fifth and final report in a series of publications relating to the needs and circumstances of older people. The first four reports focussed on Northern Ireland. We commenced with a broad overview of the position of older people in this part of the United Kingdom. The second report dealt with income and poverty amongst persons of pensionable age. This was followed by a review of data relating to the health of older people and their caring responsibilities. In the fourth report we looked at the special pressures and sources of strain facing those aged between 50 years and pensionable age. To round off the project, in this report we look at data relating to older people in the Republic of Ireland to enable some comparison to be made of the positions north and south.