Senator Phil Prendergast

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Pensioners get free telly but not free medicine

Issued : Friday 11 December, 2009

Pensioners should be exempted from the prescription charges announced in Budget 2010, the Labour Party’s spokeswoman on Older Persons Phil Prendergast has said.

The South Tipperary senator said the charge of 50 cent per prescribed item was one of many immoral measures announced in the Budget which affect everyone in society.

But it was a particularly irrational decision in respect of older people.

Senator Prendergast said: “Many older people are prescribed a range of medicines that they often must use for the rest of their lives.

“Now Brian Lenihan has decided they must pay up to €10 a month for it – that’s a 4.5% cut in the household income of those on a basic pension.

“So his claim that he did not go after pensioners last Wednesday is not true. It’s is another example of the deceit and screwed up priorities that underpin his Budget.

“The poorest and most ill pensioners will experience a cut in their household income equivalent to the reduction in basic social welfare rates.

“Older people who get a Carers’ payment are even worse hit because of the cut of up to €8.50 in these payments.

“These charges are all the more bizarre when you consider pensioners get a free TV licence.

“This means they can watch telly for free but must pay for the medicine that helps them function and in some cases keeps them alive.

“Minister Lenihan must reverse this thoughtless and weird decision immediately by exempting pensioners from the prescription charge.”