Give pensioners more than survival allowance

SENIOR citizens depending on their old age pensions are extremely worried about rising living costs over recent months and the projected increases this winter are adding to their concerns about survival on their current income, especially those living on their own.

The Government has improved the lot of old age pensioners, but not in line with increases in the average weekly wage of the employed.

As a voting block, pensioners are a considerable percentage of the electorate and they should examine carefully what this Government and any alternative administration has to offer them over the next five years.

The respect and consideration due to the aged leaves much to be desired, even at official level.

Churches of all denominations should promote more energetically the cause of the aged and the less-well-off who have no organised movement to represent them.

We have had too many instances of people living alone being found dead in their homes days later. The Government now has the resources to give people dependent for their total income on their old age pension a decent weekly allowance so that they can be free from worry about survival.

None of our political parties should commit to the powerful vested groups more than their fair share especially during the general election campaign.

John J Hassett

Croke Street

Thurles

Co Tipperary