An alliance of groups in the ageing sector has launched a campaign to encourage older people to highlight their needs when election candidates call to their doors in the coming weeks.
The Older and Bolder alliance said its "On the Doorstep" campaign would ensure that the needs of vulnerable older people were protected by getting commitments from people running in the local and European elections.
Project director Patricia Conboy said the campaign was in response to recent comments by the Minister for Finance and others that welfare supports for older people may be cut in the Budget at the end of the year.
The campaign will involve a road show of public meetings around the country over the coming weeks, an intensive media campaign and the distribution of thousands of canvass cards to older people. It will also highlight the lack of progress from the Government in delivering on its promise to develop a national positive ageing strategy
Ms Conboy said the Government and the Opposition parties must commit to protecting the welfare of the most vulnerable groups of older people because the vast majority of older people would be at risk of poverty without supports such as the State pension and community care services.
UCD economist Joe Durkan warned that the real level of welfare payments could be cut over the next few years and he called for a reform of the pension industry.
"There is a need to move to a more structured national pension system with a basic level of pension for all and an income related payment, funded by taxation rather than by pension fund contributions," Mr Durkan said.
The Older and Bolder alliance includes Active Retirement Ireland; Age and Opportunity; Age Action Ireland; The Alzheimer Society of Ireland; The Carers Association; The Irish Hospice Foundation; The Irish Senior Citizens Parliament and the Senior Helpline.
