The Government must stop targeting the elderly with cuts which are causing fear and anxiety amongst older people in the community, according to Independent councillor for Galway City East, Declan McDonnell.
“All of the cuts and taxes which have been introduced in the last number of years have affected all walks of life, but they are a particular burden on the elderly. In the last number of weeks on the canvass trail, the level of fear amongst older people in the community is huge.
“Older people are worried about losing their medical cards, water being cut off, having enough money to pay basic everyday expenses and in many cases they are also worrying about their adult children, many of whom are struggling with mortgage arrears and childcare costs. Pensions are fixed and will not increase, but the whole host of new taxes and a gradual erosion of benefits is causing a significant reduction in income and loss of peace of mind for the elderly.
“The Government continually claim that the elderly and vulnerable will be protected, but this is not the reality on the ground. I am calling for a halt to the situation where these people are being continually targeted, that their benefits be protected and in cases where over 70s medical cards have been taken away. I am calling for them to be re-instated.
Cllr McDonnell concluded: “The Government need to realise that we live in a society and not an economy and we should not be sacrificing peace of mind and quality of life just to satisfy the Troika and other European countries. We must look after our own first and that starts with the elderly.”
