Sinn Féin outlines key priorities on issues affecting older citizens

MARY LOU McDONALD TD says Sinn Féin's 'Citizens Charter for Older People' which she launched at Leinster House aims to ensure that older people live in a state where they are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve.

“In the midst of the negative campaigning from some other parties, we are showing that the needs of older people are not forgotten by us in Sinn Féin,” she told reporters on Tuesday.

Sinn Féin proposals include enshrining the right to free travel for all over 65s, protection of the Rural Transport Scheme, restoration of fuel allowance, the right to dignified healthcare and the abolition of prescription charges.

The 2011 census showed that there are 535,000 people over the age of 65 in the state and by 2041 that number will almost have tripled to more than 1.4million people – equivalent to 22% of the population.

The party says it pledges that there would be no cuts to the state pension and that women's pensions should be reviewed. 

Mary Lou McDonald was critical that women are often not entitled to the full state pension:

“This affects women who have been outside of the workforce periodically for domestic or caring reasons, so that needs to be addressed,” she said. “We will ensure that people are entitled to the full pension as it stands”.

The Dublin Central TD also said water charges and the Local Property Tax would be scrapped:

“The Property Tax is most feared by older people in our community who simply cannot pay it because it is not linked in anyway to ability to pay. I know of many elderly citizens who have literally had sleepless nights worrying about this tax,” she said.

Sinn Féin's proposals also include the recruitment of a further 1,000 gardaí to increase security in the home – with a focus on crime prevention, an increase in sheltered housing and independent living dwellings, increasing the living alone allowance, restoration of the bereavement grant and examining initiatives which would allow young Irish families return home to their elderly parents after forced emigration,