Pensioners' group welcomes maintenance of State Pension

The Irish Senior Citizens Parliament has welcomed the maintenance of the State Pension as well as the extra €40 in the fuel allowance.

However, the group said it was "disappointing" to see that income tax age credits are to be phased out. This means older peoples' income will be taxed by up to an extra €325 per person.

They were also disappointed with the abolition of the Income Tax Age exemptions over four years, which they say "again targets pensioners with pretty low incomes".

Máiréad Hayes, CEO of the Parliament said: "Although pensioners may have been saved the worst of direct cuts, the future will be one of struggling to help their families manage in the most straitened of circumstances.

"The future is still one of scrimping to make ends meet as the spending power of the pension is reduced with additional service changes and the scrapping of PRSI & Health Levy reliefs on pensions," said Ms Hayes.