Active Retirement Ireland, the country’s largest membership organisation for older people, says it is deeply disappointed by the minimal provision made for older people in Budget 2026 and that many will be worse off under the announced measures.
The charity said that, despite commitments made in the recent Programme for Government to advance a social care model that allows older people to live full and independent lives, the government has instead handed down a Budget that offers very little in the way of meaningful support.
Active Retirement Ireland CEO Fran Brennan said, “In the lead up to Budget 2026, the first in this government’s term, we heard a lot about targeted supports to replace the one-off cost of living payments that have kept many older people from falling below the poverty line over the last number of years.
“What we saw today was the government making good on one promise, to halt cost of living packages, but as far as targeted supports for older people, the government has missed the mark.
“While we welcome the €5 weekly increase to the Fuel Allowance, this additional €140 over 28 weeks is a steep decline from the energy support payments of previous budgets and will do little to stave off energy poverty at a time when Irish energy costs remain among the highest in Europe.
“The weekly €10 increase to the pension is not an increase either — in terms of purchasing power, when it comes into effect on 1 January 2026 it will be worth even less than in January this year.
“The current full contributory state pension equates to 28.1% of average earnings. Even with the €10 increase, at the current rate of wage growth in Ireland, that figure will fall to 27.7% which is around the lowest it has ever been.
“Active Retirement Ireland and our partners across the sector have for years called for an adequate, benchmarked state pension indexed to wage growth to allow older people to live with independence, dignity and greater income security.
“In his Budget speech, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Jack Chambers TD said “we must protect what we have worked so hard to build”. It is time that older people were given the recognition and respect they deserve for the lifelong contributions they have made toward the strong economy that Ireland enjoys today.”