The Green Party today pledged to raise the state pension to €334 per week by 2012, if elected.
The Green Party proposes to improve healthcare and pensions for older people. Image: Alan Betson.
Launching a set of proposals aimed at improving the quality of life for older people, the party also pledged to tackle high rates of relative poverty and implement special healthcare arrangements for over 65s.
As part of a broad range of health proposals, the party promised separate A&E access areas for older people and local 24-hour primary care centres. It also pledged to set aside 400 acute beds and 400 long-stay/community nursing unit places annually for the next five years.
Referring to the controversy surrounding care standards at Leas Cross and other facilities, the Greens pledged to create an inspectorate to enforce legal minimum standards for care institutions.
Health spokesman John Gormley said there were nearly 500,000 people in Ireland aged 65 or older half of whom have incomes close to the poverty threshold.
"High rates of relative poverty among older people will worsen as the population ages unless key steps are taken to address their income and housing inadequacy," Mr Gormley said.
The party also pledged to ensure people retiring with relatively good pensions would not end up paying more tax because of they lose work-related tax credits.