Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Senators Ó Clochartaigh and Mooney spoke about the elderly.

For example, as the Senator noted, the State pension, the carer's schemes, free travel and the free television licence have not been touched. Recognising that fuel poverty is a big issue for the elderly, the fuel allowance has not been changed. The excise rate on fuel has also been left unchanged. The tax treatment of the elderly remains unchanged with no change in net income for pensioners as a result of this budget. Those aged 65 and over will continue to be treated more favourably under the tax system than all other taxpayers. This favourable treatment of pensioners has been protected in the budget. While there have been negatives such as the withdrawal of the free telephone allowance, all these matters still remain the same. One would think that it was all one-way traffic in that regard. It is not.