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Pensioners' payments slashed by Department's 'periodic review' - McGrath
Many old age pensioners are having their payments slashed due to a 'periodic review' carried out by the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs, warned Fine Gael.
"The vast majority of Ireland's 110,000 non-contributory old age pensioners, who are also receive British pensions are suffering drastic cuts in their Irish pension. There are 10,300 such pensioners getting British Retirement Pensions and approximately 200 of these are in Co. Westmeath. While many pensioners received significant increases in the last budget, these have been systematically reduced due to currency exchange rates with weekly payments being cut by up to £30 per week in some cases.
"This is a cruel and heartless way to treat our elderly Irish citizens who have retired to their homeland and are being penalised twice in their lives, after first being obliged to emigrate in their youth due to lack of employment opportunities at home and now having their pensions reduced.
"It is unacceptable that old age pension rates should be at the mercy of the vagaries of international currency exchange rates. I do not recall the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs actively compensating pensioners when the value of sterling was lower than our Punt.
"It is a traumatic experience for any pensioner to have their already meagre income reduced by £20-£30 per week. The Department and the Minister must adapt a more humane approach when conducting their so called 'periodic reviews', " says McGrath.
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