Fine Gael unveils support package for elderly

A multi-million pound package of measures to encourage an active retirement for the elderly was promised today by Fine Gael.

Mr Richard Bruton, party policy director, said the aim of the four-year programme was to improve the quality of life for older people.

Fine Gael hopes to achieve this by increasing budgets for home maintenance and home help services which will be extended to provide out of hours and weekend cover.

The policy was attacked this evening by Fianna Fail who described it as an attempt to buy the "grey vote".

"Fine Gael has, today, put new clothes on a proposal it made last year to introduce a 'higher' retirement age to off-set the new demand for pensions," said Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Mr Cullen.

An increase in the non-contributory pension of £10.50 per week is among Fine Gael's proposals along with the doubling of the winter fuel allowance.

Other measures include free GP services to all those over 65-years-of-age and the prioritisation of treatments for hip and knee replacements, cataract operations and heart bypasses. These will maintain independence, Fine Gael said.

The party also wants a fast-track system for emergency older when then arrive at casualty departments.

Mr Bruton said budgets for the maintenance and repair of accommodation will be enhanced with GPs in a position to certify adaptations up to £3,000.

He promised a "new deal" for full-time carers raising the income cut-off point for the carer's allowance to £370 per week.

Carer's on social welfare will also become eligible for half of the carer's allowance.

Variables such as the take-up rate of the new schemes makes costing for the first three years difficult Mr Bruton said, but he expected the package would cost £400 million in its fourth year with a further £70 million on capital expenditure.

Regarding care facilities, the party intends to set up an independent system for vetting the standards of all long-stay care facilities. It will also develop a register of facilities and of vacancies which would act as a clearing house to facilitate an easier search for suitable long-stay accommodation.