Study: More than 10% of pensioners face poverty following budget

New research has found that older people in Ireland are fearful of facing financial hardship following the December budget.

A study by the Centre for Ageing Research has found that 11% of pensioners are now at risk of poverty.

Many have significant concerns about the cuts in incomes and services that may lie ahead in the budget.

Professor Paddy Hillyard from Queen's University in Belfast led the research.

He said that any cut to the State pension would push many people into the poverty trap.

"Quite clearly (the spending cuts) would substantially increase the rate of povety among older people," he said.