Pensions face ‘piecemeal’ reform, says Taoiseach

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has signalled that no immediate action will be taken to address pensions inequalities despite a Dáil vote on the matter.

Tens of thousands of people, mainly women, who took time out to raise children or care for elderly relatives are being denied higher rates of the contributory pension due to anomalies in the system.

This means some women are losing as much as €35 per week, as payments are calculated from the date a person first began work and do not take consideration of time taken out to care for family.