Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)

The increase of €16 which brings the non-contributory pension to €200 merely means the Government complied with its commitment in the national anti-poverty strategy. It would have been surprising and appalling had it not done so. The Government can boast about nothing in this increase. During the next two months any non-contributory pensioner living in local authority housing will receive an increase from the local authorities in his or her weekly payment.

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