28 Jan Topics for Elections | Pensions

• The Government is committed to ensuring all pensioners have a comfortable retirement.

• To guarantee the sustainability of our pension system and to facilitate a longer working life, the State pension age was standardised at 66.

• This will be increased to 67 in 2021 and 68 in 2028.

• This is vital, if the current workers, who fund State pension payments through their PRSI, are to receive a pension themselves when they reach retirement age.

• We know concerns have been raised by those who are contractually required to retire at 65, we have listened, and intend to introduce a transition pension payment which will provide financial certainty until reaching pension age.

• Minister Flanagan expressed concern over the pensions issue yesterday on TWIP saying ‘pension policy needs to be seriously looked at urgently’.

• In knowledge of the fact that concerns have been raised by those who are contractually required to retire at 65, Fine Gael has listened.

• The Taoiseach said yesterday it is his intention, if returned to Government, to introduce a transition pension payment which will provide financial certainty until reaching pension age.