Labour promises €200 weekly pension
The Labour Party today pledged old age pensions of €200-a-week within two years as they continued the gradual release of their manifesto for next month’s general election.
Labour leader Ruairi Quinn said the increase was in line with a commitment on the part of his party, and also reported plans to link pension increases to future wage rises.
Campaigning in Dublin, he said, too, that all long-term pensions would go up by 35% over two years if Labour became part of a new Government.
Mr Quinn, whose party is expected to make gains in the May 17 poll, said that based on projected earnings increases, the old age pension should reach €247 by 2007.
Meanwhile, Fine Gael today outlined proposals to make housing more affordable for first-time buyers, centering on a savings scheme permitting one euro for every three saved on a deposit for a new home.
Party leader Michael Noonan outlined the proposal while campaigning in Co Meath, together with former Taoiseach John Bruton, the man he ousted as head of Fine Gael last year.
He said Fine Gael would increase the housing supply through a new agency, double mortgage relief and double tax relief on rent.
