Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 1 December 2022

Public Accounts Committee

2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 37 - Social Protection - Social Insurance Fund 2021
Chapter 10: Regularity of social welfare payments
Chapter 11: The recovery of benefit and assistance payments following compensation awards
Chapter 14: Classification of workers for PRSI purposes

9:30 am

Photo of James O'ConnorJames O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I join other members in commending the Department on all the work that was done during Covid-19. I find the Minister to be exceptionally helpful. She is certainly excelling in her role.

An issue that is coming up far more frequently now is that, with the rising cost of living and the pandemic, there was a lot of hardship for people who are over retirement age and would be classed as old age pensioners. What I have started to notice, as have other Deputies, I am sure, is that a significant proportion of the people who come into my office may have received bad financial advice. I class them as vulnerable in the sense that they were unaware of the significance and importance of making sure their stamps and contributions were in order so as to be entitled to receive a State pension. In other cases, they are people who have moved back to the country. I want to get an insight from the Department on this issue. How many people over the age of 66 are not in receipt of a State pension? If the witnesses do not have that information to hand, I ask them to revert to me with it. I am looking for a rough estimate. This partly relates to those who could be considered vulnerable as they may not have much savings, corresponding to what might be the case in Revenue. Do the witnesses have any indication in that regard? It is frightening for people in that position. In effect, such people have nowhere to turn if they do not have any savings. This issue is coming up repeatedly. It is a significant concern.

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