The Taoiseach was responding to Independent TD Joan Collins, who said during Leaders’ Questions in the Dáil that the number of older people at risk of poverty has increased by 55,000 last year when compared to 2021. She argued that the Government’s policy, A Roadmap for Pensions Reform 2018-2023, declared that the State pension should be indexed at 34% of the average earnings and should be tied to the consumer price index.

The Dublin Central TD has also pointed out many older people were now facing notices after the eviction ban was lifted while one in five older people living alone were at risk of poverty.