Jun 4, 2015:

Active Retirement Ireland criticises Government for lack of planning

Active Retirement Ireland (ARI) has today called on the Government to consider older people in their planning, as the Fiscal Council warns of poor economic foresight in the Spring Statement.
 
"Ireland may have the youngest population in the EU, but we still need to plan for the future," said ARI spokesperson, Peter Kavanagh, today.  "Older people are conspicuous in their absence from the Governments Spring Statement.  To date, the only measure the government has taken to future proof the economy has been to implement a rise in the pensionable age. However they have neglected to protect the rights of older workers. We are looking at an untenable and harsh situation where older workers will be forced to claim unemployment benefits instead of a pension during the ages 65 and 68, so the taxpayer saves very little and the older person's contribution as a citizen is belittled and devalued", he added.
 
The Fiscal Council today criticised the Government for not planning for our ageing population.  Mr Kavanagh agrees: "While there is a tendency to portray older people as a drain on society, despite their many contributions, we do need to make Ireland ready for a significantly older population. Short term gains from cuts to community care grants, home help and other services for older people will lead to long term losses as a fragile system finally gives way. There is no joined-up thinking between departments that will prepare us for the future. For all the rhetoric about turning a corner, we feel that older people are still an afterthought for our government and we still have a very unequal society."

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