Age Action today questioned what it said was the suggestion from the Combat Poverty Agency (CPA) that enough has been done for older people.
The national network on ageing and older people welcomed the CPA's highlighting of the threats of the rising cost of living and cost of fuel to those living on social welfare payments.
But it questioned comments by CPA acting director Kevin O’Kelly yesterday suggesting that enough has been done to guard against older people slipping into consistent poverty.
Mr O’Kelly said Government efforts during recent years aimed at the elderly - including a rise in pensions, increased fuel allowance and medical cards - meant significant progress had been achieved in reducing poverty among older people.
Age Action said 2.2 per cent of those over 65 in danger of consistent poverty represented 10,294 people, according to the 2006 Census, and warned that figure "could easily rise" if the Government failed to fulfil its promise of increasing the State Pensions to €300 during the current Dáil lifetime.
The campaign group said research published this year showed that for a lone female pensioner over 70, the shortfall between what would be needed and what she received varied between €32.26 and €89.10. The research was carried out by the Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice.
Age Action criticised successive governments for failing to increase the "derisory" Living Alone Allowance of €7.70 since 1996.
It also called for an increase in the Fuel Allowance from €18 to €30 to offset sanctioned increases in ESB and gas bills.
