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ALONE call for focused Government support of older people as Budget 2019 is released

October 9, 2018

PRESS RELEASE

Charity for older people responds to Budget 2019

Dublin, 9th October 2018 ALONE, the charity that supports older people to age at home, has welcomed the increase to the state pension announced this afternoon as part of Budget 2019, but has stated that further government action is needed to support Ireland’s older people.

Following today’s Budget 2019 announcement, Seán Moynihan, CEO of ALONE, commented, “Today’s Budget shows some promise for older people. However, it does not go far enough, particularly concerning housing and homecare issues.”

Moynihan continued, “While we welcome the €5 increase to the pension, this is below the National Pensions Framework target of 35% of average earnings, which would require a €13 increase to the state pension. For pensioners living alone in rural areas, the income from a contributory pension will only meet the cost of 85% of their expenses. We had hoped that this year’s budget would reach the halfway point of an increase of €6.50 and are disappointed to note the increase is delayed until March 2019.”

In terms of social benefits announced for older people, Moynihan commented, “The restoration of the Christmas bonus will be a welcome relief for many older people in the run-up to the holidays. The extension of the fuel allowance to 28 weeks is also encouraging, but as one in ten older people are unable to keep their home adequately warm, we believe that this should have been restored to 32 weeks. Similarly, the Living Alone allowance directly impacts the living conditions of older people across the country and we had hoped that an increase to €14 per week might be introduced.“

In response to 50c reduction in prescription charges for over-70’s and updated health care costs, Seán Moynihan commented, “The reduction is a move in the right direction as the prescription charge has had serious health implications for older people over the last number of years. Likewise, the reduced threshold for the Drug Payment Scheme by €10 and the increase of income thresholds by €25 for GP visit cards will hopefully lighten the financial burden when an older person’s health requires attention.”

Despite much discussion over the past number of days, the ‘granny-flat grant’ was not included in Budget 2019. The rejection of this project has been supported by ALONE, who expressed concern over the practicalities of the scheme.

Considering measures to combat the housing crisis, Seán Moynihan said, “The focus should be on providing housing with supports for older people and further funding to the Housing Aid for Older People Scheme, in order to prevent a larger crisis to come. The increase in funding for Housing Adaptation Grants to €57million, from €53 million, will enable up to 11,800 adaptations to better facilitate older people to age in their own homes.”

Moynihan said, “ALONE has conducted a robust assessment into housing solutions for older people and strongly recommend the development of housing choices inspired by the life-cycle. Our suggestions are fully outlined in our housing report ‘Housing Options for Older People in Ireland – Time for Action’, which we hope will influence the housing investment announced by the Minister for Finance today.”

While an increased homecarers credit of €300 to €1,500 per year was welcomed, ALONE are disappointed that no increase to homecare was included in Budget 2019. This follows a pre-budget submission by the charity calling for an increase of €102 million in Home Support Hours.

The charity also welcomed the government’s investment of €84 million to mental health funding. Having established the Loneliness Taskforce in collaboration with Senator Keith Swanick earlier this year, the charity is working to highlight the impact loneliness can have towards the health and well-bring of older people throughout Ireland. The Loneliness Taskforce is calling for €3 million of this new funding to be assigned to loneliness and social isolation.

ENDS

About ALONE
Established in 1977, ALONE supports older people to age at home. ALONE works with those who have issues with loneliness and social isolation, lack of services, poor health, poverty, homelessness or housing. ALONE provides Support Coordination, Housing with Support, Befriending and Campaigning services to over 1,000 older people nationwide every week. ALONE’s services are quality approved and are delivered 365 days a year.

For more information contact:
Lauren Freir, Limelight Communications, [email protected], 01 668 0600, 087 238 0853
Kathryn Byrne, Limelight Communications, [email protected], 01 668 0600, 085 233 6033

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    January 25, 2023
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    December 5, 2022

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    March 24, 2023
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    March 9, 2023
  • ALONE calls for long-awaited national strategy to combat loneliness in light of ‘Hello Again World’ campaign
    March 1, 2023

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CH09 Support Coordinators

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[email protected]

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Ciaran Cooke

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Kathryne McCabe

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086 014 1628

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Justin Tennant 

[email protected]

083 419 4186

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Eva O’Dwyer 

[email protected]

087 144 4416

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Ciaran Cooke

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Daragh McDonagh

[email protected]

086 011 6704

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Ciara Solan 

[email protected]

087 936 9936

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[email protected]

086 108 2524

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Lola Fitzgibbon

086 084 1360

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Mary Colclough

[email protected]

086 410 8902

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Liz Nolan 

[email protected]

087 755 5021

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Clare Mullins

[email protected]

086 031 5628

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Doireann Gough & Conor O’Brien

[email protected]

086 013 6357

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Maria Butfoy

[email protected]

086 136 4338

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Deidre O’Connor

[email protected]

086 011 8991

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Catherine Power

[email protected]

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Aileen O’Neill

[email protected]

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Mary Murnane

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Joan Slattery and Sarah Kerr

[email protected]

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Natalia Gembicka

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086 014 4915

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[email protected]

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Tara Doyle 

[email protected]

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Ciaran Fitzpatrick

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Siobhan Walsh

086 084 1674

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[email protected]

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Shannan Howe

[email protected]

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Sean Hughes

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087 613 5090

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[email protected]

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Hollyhill , Sunday’s Well,Mardyke , City Centre)

Jessica Twohig

[email protected]

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Stefan Doods

[email protected]

086 011 9903

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Katie Siwek

[email protected]

086 127 7134

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Eva Hannigan 

[email protected]

086 378 5320

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Eva Hannigan 

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086 378 5320

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Mary McCarthy

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[email protected]

087 390 1769

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Martina Kinane

087 407 4085

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 Michelle Gallagher

[email protected]

086 127 6308

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Alison Kennedy

[email protected]

086 127 9660

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Steph Apsel

[email protected]

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Rosaline Normile

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086 107 9432

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Orla Regan

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Deborah Blane

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Sarah Minogue

[email protected]

086 013 1055

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[email protected]

086 107 9431

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Aoife Dennehy

[email protected]

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Service Manager

Ciaran Gilligan

083 878 6080

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Ciara Groonell

[email protected]

086 013 9448

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Eileen Keoghan

[email protected]

085 780 190

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Greta Klasaukskaite

[email protected]

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Mona Tillmans

[email protected]

086 012 5716

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Mary Ginley

[email protected]

086 440 0667

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Carol Duffy

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086 013 1569

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Sinead Reinhardt

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086 108 5167

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Breda Gilligan 

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086 011 8570

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Eileen McKeown

[email protected]

086 136 6717

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Susan Dillon

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086 013 4041

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Karen Byrne

[email protected]

087 412 6570

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Paul Stafford

[email protected]

086 013 5043

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Service Manager

Service Manager

Frances Browne

087 751 6087

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Bronagh Doyle

[email protected]

861716984

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Denise McHugh

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086 083 4393

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Michael Purtill

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086 014 5831

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Michael Kennedy

[email protected]

086 440 2894

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Mary Ginley

[email protected]

086 440 0667

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Chantelle Devaney 

[email protected]

086 084 1315

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Geraldine McCormack 

[email protected]

086 035 3899

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Emma Kennedy 

[email protected]

086 844 3529

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Deirdre Browne

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086 608 1026

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Kate Reilly

[email protected]

083 091 4720

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Volunteer Support Officers

Helena Campbell

[email protected]

01 805 7709

Volunteer Support Officers

Hannah Laraway

[email protected]