Labour’s women branch looks forward to budget implementation measures

Labour’s women branch Nisa Laburisti is “looking forward” to the implementation of the measures announced in Budget 2016.

The branch has welcomed the budget as one that “reaches all families and is socially just with the most vulnerable”.

It welcomed the increase in pensions, the first in 20 years, including those born before 1962 who will receive a pension for the first time.

Nisa Laburisti welcomed the government’s decision to give a full widows’ pension, irrespective of the pension received. Pensioners whose pension does not exceed the minimum wage will not be taxed.

Increases have been allocated to married pensioners on a minimum pension not affected by any increases.

Another positive measure, it said, was the launching of a pilot project through which up to 167 pensioners can employ a full-time or part-time professional carer and have 50% of the minimum wage refunded by government. This is estimated to cost less than a third of what government forks out to keep pensioners in a care home. This scheme will be capped at €1 million and is only applicable to pensioners on the waiting list for elderly care homes.