ALONE comments on Budget 2016 announcements

ALONE, the charity that cares for older people in need has released comment on the 2016 Budget announcements, delivered in the Dáil today.

Sean Moynihan, CEO of ALONE said, “ALONE welcome increases to the weekly income of older people which include an increase to the old age pension and the weekly fuel allowance. We are acutely aware however that these small increases do not yet restore the Christmas Bonus, or the Fuel Allowance, to 2009 levels”.

Moynihan continued, “Of all those in poverty older people have experienced the greatest volatility in their poverty risk rates. Ireland remains an expensive place to grow older, for example, food costs in Ireland are 15.8% more expensive than the EU average. The levels of fuel poverty in Ireland remain unacceptably high despite the fact that keeping warm during winter is of vital significance for older people.”

“In our most recent campaign, ALONE called on the government to consider older people who are homeless in all but name and 700 voices have signed our petition asking the government to designate a portion of all social housing units for use by older people. Despite this, funding has only increased by 20% to tackle the housing crisis.”

Moynihan concluded, “We need to keep planning and looking long term as every year we have 20,000 additional people turning 65, totalling 160,000 since the economic collapse. ALONE believes that not all older people are the same and we must target resources to those most in need of help to live in safety and security as part of the community.”

ALONE can be contacted on (01) 679 1032 for those who have concerns about their own wellbeing, or the wellbeing of a vulnerable older person in the community or visit www.alone.ie