Frank Feighan (Fine Gael)

I join with Senator Finucane in calling for the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs to examine the way in which additional charges are placed on personal alarms. This scheme now penalises rather than benefits the elderly. I have received numerous complaints in my own constituency in Roscommon about the number of people who cannot afford to pay the additional charge of €165, which is double the amount of a pension.

Despite the investment it has made, Iarnród Éireann is not taking care of its pensioners and the Minister should intercede immediately in this affair. A pensioner with 40 years service with Iarnród Éireann receives a pension of €127 a week. How can anybody survive on this amount? Members of the Defence Forces, local authority members and Bord na Móna workers receive more than €80 per week extra. I ask the Minister to intercede immediately to ensure Irish Rail workers who have worked tremendously hard and have turned around Irish Rail are recognised and get a pension on which they can live.