WHAT IT MEANS FOR ME:BREDA O'MALLEY, Pensioner
BREDA O’MALLEY was pleased the State pension was not cut, but said there were “no winners” in yesterday’s Budget.
Breda, who is in her 80s and lives in Westport, said it was “only fair” the State pension remained unchanged. “What we have we hope to hold – we feel we deserve it. We made such contributions to this country,” she said. She acknowledged that there have been calls for the contributory pension to be cut, but feels that pensioners paid “prohibitive” rates of tax during their working lives.
However, she said senior citizens “want solidarity with families”, as many are grandparents and feel sorry for the families who are going to be “strapped for cash”.
“I feel there are no real winners in this Budget,” she said. Breda qualifies for the Fuel Allowance and was pleased that an additional payment of €40 will be made to households in receipt of this payment. “I’ll be glad of anything that will help towards heating,” she said.
