Elderly poverty risk halves, but budget fears soar

THE number of pensioners at risk of poverty has more than halved in the past six years but fears are growing those gains will be squandered in the next budget.

A report, which will be launched today by the Centre for Ageing Research and Development (CARDI), will show how the rate of older people at risk of poverty in the Republic of Ireland has fallen to just over 11% this year. This compares with a figure of 24.7% in 2004.

The report concludes, however, that many pensioners remain extremely vulnerable to any changes in income.