SVP: 'Price hikes eroding social welfare increases'

The St Vincent de Paul has criticised the Government for claiming that more than 2,000 pensioners would be better off once new social welfare rates came into force this month.

The charity said the claims were disingenuous as the pension increase announced in last month’s Budget would not cover planned hikes in electricity charges, the television licence fee and bus and rail fares.

Spokesman John Monaghan said: "Quite a number of these [hikes] are going to erode those increases that people on pensions are going to get."