Louth pensioners struggling with rising costs after being given ‘lump of coal’

CIÉ pensioners in County Louth are struggling with rising costs after being given a “lump of coal” last Christmas, the Dáil has heard.

Louth Fine Gael TD Paula Butterly raised the issue during a recent ‘Other Members’ Questions’ session.

Deputy Butterly said: “I want to raise the ongoing and deeply frustrating situation facing retired CIÉ pensioners in County Louth and across the country, many of whom have not received any pension increase since 2008.

“These are men and women who have worked for decades in public transport and who often kept the wheels turning in both good times and bad.

“Last May, after 17 years, CIÉ and the trade unions finally reached agreement on proposals that would allow for a long-overdue pension increase of up to 5%.

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“Employees voted on these proposals in August and both pension schemes accepted the changes.”

She went on to outline the disappointment that these pensioners faced last Christmas.

“On foot of these ballots, pensioners were told that the increase would be implemented before Christmas.

“Imagine their shock that instead of having something nice in their stockings, all there was was a lump of coal. Payments did not come through.

“It was only after Christmas that they were made aware of the additional requirements that might be familiar to the Tánaiste and me, but mean nothing to the ordinary man and woman on the street.

“These requirements were a business case from CIÉ, sign-off across three Government Departments, approval from NewERA and input from the Attorney General before the Minister could even put the draft statutory instrument in place.”

Deputy Butterly continued by highlighting the impact that this delay has had on the pensioners.

“A delay like this may seem bureaucratic but it undermines the credibility of those who make the promise and, as time flies, time for pensioners is truly precious.

“The increase involved is modest. For most people, it amounts to between €500 and €1,000 a year.

“However, there are pensioners struggling with rising costs for energy, food and healthcare for whom this is urgently needed.

“It is also important to state clearly that this increase applies to those who retired up to the end of 2022, people who have already given their working lives to public service.”

She concluded by calling on Tánaiste Simon Harris to take action on the issue as soon as possible.

“My ask is quite simple. I ask the Tánaiste to call on the Ministers to expedite all remaining approvals, progress the statutory instrument as a matter of urgency, and ensure that retired CIÉ pensioners finally receive the increase they have been promised and have waited too long for.”

In response to Deputy Butterly, the Tánaiste thanked her for raising the matter and committed to addressing the issues at hand.

Deputy Harris said: “I accept her challenge and request in terms of seeking progress and expediency in relation to this.

“I am also conscious of CIÉ pensioners who are probably watching this and thinking there has been nothing expeditious about it. I am conscious of that as I say it.

“I did speak with ministerial colleagues on this during the week and I know there is a shared sense of urgency to get this done for once and for all in the interest of these pensioners.”

He went on to acknowledge the work that is being done to address the matter and insisted that progress is being made.

“I am pleased to tell the Deputy that there has been very positive engagement between the Department of Transport and the Department of public expenditure and reform on the policy issues.

“Everybody is working now to really get the proposal reviewed and the relevant ministerial consents in place at the earliest possible time.

“I am struck by the point the Deputy made around proper communications in relation to this, though, being honest and blunt with people and not giving them a sense it is going to be on a particular date and then it ends up being at a further time.”

The Tánaiste concluded by emphasising the importance of not letting a similar situation arise again in the future.

Deputy Butterly said she was encouraged by her party leader’s response and that he is taking the matter seriously.

She stated: “Time passes very quickly and the older you get, it passes even quicker. For a lot of these pensioners, what they are looking for is very modest but it will make a great difference in their daily lives.

“Time, for them, is really of the essence. I take the Tánaiste's point about communication. Fundamentally, that is the point here.

“They were promised that they would see it at Christmas but that probably was unrealistic. We have to be better at that.

“We always talk about the fact that we want to reward people who work hard. We should never forget and we must reward the people who have worked hard.”

She concluded by saying that when the Government makes a promise, it must do everything it can to keep it.

The Tánaiste then came back in to say he agreed with Deputy Butterly and he acknowledged the work done by CIE staff down through the years.

Deputy Harris said: “The Deputy is right; time does not stand still. There are real people waiting for this increase, and waiting longer than they ever expected they would have to and longer than we would have wished.

“I acknowledge that. I also acknowledge that they are people who worked bloody hard in public service for the good of our country, through a great and proud tradition of working in CIÉ.

“Many of us know people in our community who served in CIÉ in our public transport or railway network over many years.”

He concluded by saying that the Minister for Transport, Darragh O’Brien, would engage directly with Deputy Butterly on the issue.