Cents and Nonsense:Ireland has a vast, untapped natural resource that can reduce stress, save money and improve all our lives. Sadly, the Government and private sector don't seem to have the willpower or technology to mine it properly, writes Margaret E Ward.

Unlike most valuable commodities, this resource is not located underground, up a mountain or out at sea. In fact, you'll probably find it in your neighbourhood.

When you were young, some of these national treasures paid you to cut their lawn (badly) or water their plants, kept an eye out for you on the road and plied you with sweets and money on special occasions. Yes, I'm talking about older neighbours.

Today, the grey-haired members of our society are largely invisible. As we speed through our working lives, the wrinkled faces we see in our city or town become blurred. Few of us live where we grew up and we're just too busy to meet the neighbours. That's understandable but did you know that some of these anonymous people have the power to solve many of our modern-day problems?

Let's take a look at a typical working mum. Siobhan has a to-do list at her job that's the length of her arm. At home, she has one the length of her leg. After putting in a full week at work, women like Siobhan can spend up to 60 hours a week on domestic chores, according to a study by Hibernian Insurance earlier this year.

The additional pressures of modern life mean that many of these women have almost seven hours less with their children than they did just two years ago. The main tasks taking up their time were: meal preparation (12 hours), cleaning (10 hours), laundry (7), washing dishes (6.5) and supervising homework (5.5).

Tasks outside the home also add up: family shopping (4 hours), driving the kids to school and to extra-curricular activities (10). On the weekends, these women might also do some gardening and DIY (5).

Phew! There must be some seriously cranky, exhausted mummies out there.

Just a few houses away, there is likely to be a woman in her late 50s or 60s who is twiddling her thumbs looking for something to do. Let's call her Mary. She grew up in a generation that expected to leave work after they married. Managing a home and family was their ultimate, and cherished, role.

Now, her kids are grown, the house and garden are spotless and her newly-retired husband is driving her nuts.

Mary is a true domestic goddess. Modern women don't know the first thing about darning a sock, making up a bed with hospital corners or sewing on a button.

Women like Mary have already reared a family so they know what needs to be done, when and how to do it. Mary might be interested in a bit of paid work outside the home and Siobhan certainly needs some help.

Ten hours a week could make all the difference to them both. Mary will get out of the house, feel the buzz of family life again and make a few extra bob. Siobhan can spend more valuable time with the family, get some exercise or see a friend.

Chances are, Siobhan and Mary will become friends and they'll have frequent laughs over cups of tea.

How do I know this? A domestic goddess joined our "home team" almost four years ago. She lives a few roads away, the kids love her like a grandmother and I owe her my sanity.

Tonight, she cooked the kids' dinner, taught my daughter to crochet and played football with my son.

My husband came home to a hot, nutritious meal rather than pre-packaged goop and was greeted by a relatively calm wife and happy children.

My friends want to know where to find someone like my neighbour.

Some clever entrepreneur should develop a community-based Domestic Angels/Crazed Parents matching system that allows neighbours to reach across the generational divide to earn time or cash.

A second strand of the business, called Wrinklies who Read, could pair older people with schools. Poor literacy and numeracy continue to be an issue in our educational system.

A study released this week found that children in disadvantaged areas believe reading books is only for "brainy and boring people". It suggests an increase in the time given to literacy and supporting teachers in making the best use of this time.

Other countries have improved literacy by paying older people to help school kids with their reading, maths and homework.

Maybe it's time we start tapping our ancient resources?

Margaret E. Ward is a journalist and director of Clear Ink, the Clear English Specialists.