Pensioner says weekly increase needed to be doubled to cover rising costs

By Cillian Sherlock, PA

Pensioner Patricia O’Mahony has said she feels a TD would “laugh” at the idea of receiving the same weekly increase offered to her in the Budget.

The 71-year-old from Renmore, Co Galway, said she was hoping “for at least twice” the €12 increase which is promised from next year.

She added: “I’m not happy. I firmly believe from my own situation, and from lots of other people, that €12 is not enough.

“If I went up to Dáil Éireann and handed €12 to a TD, what would they do with it? Start laughing.”

Ms O’Mahony also expressed disappointment that the increase will not begin until January as she is experiencing cost-of-living related pressures.

She said: “I’m in a wheelchair, I’m living in a bungalow with storage heating and I didn’t realise how expensive it would be. That was over a year ago and I ended up with ESB bills of over €1,000 that I’m still trying to pay.”

Ms O’Mahony, a former nurse who suffered two major strokes and has COPD, said she is also “crucified” with the high cost of medication.

She added: “I just feel absolutely desolate at this stage and I don’t think it’s right.”

Ms O’Mahony said a €200 lump sum payment in winter 2023 for those living alone “will help”, but noted that the core allowance had not increased.

“That will be a help but it’s a once-off thing that will help for that particular month, but I’m back to square one again then after that,” she added.

A spokeswoman for the AgeAction advocacy group said the core rate of the pension would need to be increased by a further €19 to have the same spending power as 2020.

The group was further critical that, outside of the once-off payment of €200 for older people living alone, this is the second year in a row that the core Living Alone Allowance has not been increased.

The said: “One in three older people living alone is at risk of poverty, nearly two thirds more since 2020, so it is a real concern that the Living Alone supplement was not increased in this budget.”