Older people reeling from cuts

Age Action is alarmed by comments by the IMF that the Government needs to cut key supports for older people such as free travel and free electricity/gas units, and Over-70s medical cards, and “assess the appropriateness of the real state pension rate”.

The comments are contained in the IMF’s fifth review, March 2, which states that older people have “remained largely unaffected by recent welfare adjustments”.

Age Action believes the comments suggest that the IMF officials have been poorly informed as to the full extent of the impact which cuts to key supports and services have had on older people in Ireland in recent years. The IMF statement cites an Irish newspaper analysis article to support claims that older people have been largely unaffected by welfare changes. We would greatly welcome the opportunity to meet the IMF’s representatives during their next visit to give them a more considered view of the crippling impact which cuts have had on older people in Ireland.