Bord Snip Nua recommendations would have a devastating effect on older people [17/08/09]

The Older and Bolder campaign has today (Friday, 17 July) warned that many of the recommendations of An Bord Snip Nua would, if implemented, have a pernicious effect on the quality of life of older people.

Older and Bolder’s Project Director, Ms Patricia Conboy said, “Some of the proposals announced yesterday will have an obvious detrimental effect on older people, notably the proposal for a 5% cut in social welfare payments, including  the state contributory and non-contributory pensions.

“Older and Bolder is also concerned with the effects that some of the other proposals would have on older people. If all of these proposals are to be implemented or even partly implemented, then older people will pay an excessive penalty for an economic situation which is not of their making,” said Ms Conboy.

Some of the An Bord Snip Nua proposals which will affect older people include:

• A 5% cut in the contributory and non contributory pension;
• An increase from 15% to 22.5% in the maximum asset contribution from older people in long term nursing home care through the Fair Deal Nursing Home Scheme despite;
• Means testing for home care packages;
• The removal of free passports for those over the age of 65;
• Increased charges in Accident and Emergency for those who attend without a GP letter from €100 to €125 (This will affect older people aged 65-69 and those who have lost their Medical Cards due to loss of entitlement for the over-70s);
• The discontinuation of the Rural Transport Initiative;
• Increase in retirement age at which State pensions are paid;
• Treatment of the Household Benefits Package (for electricity, telephone and TV licences) as taxable income;

Ms Conboy added, “The potential effects of the discontinuation of the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltact Affairs and the severe cuts proposed to a range of community and voluntary supports are less obvious but no less worrying.

“Specifically, the Local Development Social Inclusion Programme for which one of the target groups is older people is to be merged – it is proposed – with County Childcare Committees. Local development groups and partnerships have facilitated and encouraged the involvement and participation of older people in social and community activities. Cuts of €44m are proposed to the Programme and this will have knock-on effects in terms of the social inclusion of older people.”

Note to Editor

Older and Bolder is an alliance of eight non-governmental organisations in the ageing sector who are committed to a joint campaign for the development and implementation of the National Positive Ageing Strategy. The members of the alliance, who work with and represent thousands of older people, are: Active Retirement Ireland, Age and Opportunity, Age Action Ireland Ltd., Alzheimer Society of Ireland, Carers Association, Irish Hospice Foundation, Irish Senior Citizens Parliament and the Senior Helpline.  Older and Bolder’s vision is of an Ireland that affirms ageing and the rights of all older people, enabling all of us to live with confidence and dignity as equal, respected and involved members of society as we age.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT:
David Gibney, Montague Communications, 01-8303116 or 087-7992 480