Speaking on Newstalk, the chief executive of ALONE, Seán Moynihan, said the holiday period can be difficult for some people.

Pharmacists could be charging patients €20 to dispense medication in blister packs from January, a charge previously covered by the State.

In a campaign video entitled Why Should Catherine Connolly Be President Of Ireland?, clips are used of Mr Higgins and his predecessors, Mary McAleese and Mary Robinson.

Almost 11,000 people received a personalised needs assessment from ALONE, with 52% of them reporting loneliness, a report says.