‘Absolutely pathetic and insulting’ for pensioners

DERMOT BOLTON (83), retired for 16 years, believes that the Budget was “insulting” for pensioners.

“It’s absolutely pathetic,” he said. “The home heating allowance was raised by €2, what an insult.”

Mr Bolton added that, in the governments he has seen, the rhetoric has been nothing but “promises, promises, promises”.

He hoped this Budget would tackle issues in the health sector. “The biggest issues are in the hospitals. I had to get a knee replacement, but the waiting lists were too long. Through a lot of agony, we had to make an appointment with a private hospital and the care was fantastic,” he said. “We had to find the money.” Following the announcement of the increase in the medical card income threshold for people over 70, Mr Bolton said that this will put even more pressure on already-tired GPs.

“I visited my own GP recently and she said, ‘I’m overwhelmed, I can’t say no to my patients’. You have to draw a line somewhere.”

Mr Bolton said that he has known some of his friends who have waited years for surgeries and appointments through public hospitals.

“I’ve known people who’ve passed away while waiting for appointments,” he said.

He said that more money should be spent on hiring staff for hospitals, and his wife Nuala agreed.

“There should be a grant for doctors and nurses who graduate from college to keep them in the country,” she said.

The couple, who have been married for 59 years, have lived in Dublin for most of their lives.