NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

10th April 2014

71% of Retired GardaíSupporting AdultChildren

Austerity survey illustrates extent of hardship among 60-70 year olds

71% of retired members of An Garda Síochána surveyed by their Association are supporting their adult children by paying household bills, providing for grandchildren and paying off debts with many reporting that they see no future for themselves.

The figures come following the publication of a survey undertaken by the Garda Síochána Retired Members Association (GSRMA).

President Gerry Blake says the findings while startling are not surprising. “We had anecdotal evidence of the hardship among our members but we wanted to carry out a deeper study to measure the extent of the impact of austerity. We surveyed our members over a six-week period during February and March and the findings are extremely worrying.

“The majority of our respondents are aged in their 60s and 70s and are using reserves to help support adult children who are struggling through the Government’s prolonged strategy of austerity.What we are seeing are high levels of stress, anxiety and even depression with many expressing the view that ‘there is no future.’”

The findings were publishedat the GSRMA’s national Seminar, which debated the impact of austerity on members and the action to be taken to lobby Government on members’ concerns.

GSRMA say they want Government to relax the penalties on older people and to protect their futures by staying away from their pensions and listening to the views of their members in great detail.

The Association is now calling on the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin and the Minister with responsibility for Older People Kathleen Lynch to meet them.

ENDS.

Notes to Editors

Survey Findings:

Survey Responses

  • 496 Retired Gardai were surveyed

Profile of Respondents

  • 94% were male
  • 6% female

Respondents are aged between 51-80 years old

  • 9% of respondents are aged in their 80s
  • 19% of respondents are aged in their 70s
  • 45% of respondents are aged in their 60s
  • 26% of respondents are aged in their 50s
  • 1 respondent aged in their 90s

Impact of Austerity

  • Average loss in pensions between €250 - €500 per month

Supporting adult children financially and otherwise

  • 71% said yes
  • 29% said no

How are you helping out adult children?

Most helping with paying bills, providing for grandchildren, with debts and emigration.

Comments:

  • Purchase of food and clothes etc.
  • Grandchild born 2007, have minded daily since and contribute weekly, essential as her mom could not afford childcare or extras
  • I had to help out a son and daughter with the purchase of a house to live in and also help them a number of times with their bills. At the present time if have nothing left out of my Gratuity that I received in 1997 and I have checked and I started to reduce it down in late 2008 to help out my son and daughter.
  • Assisted them getting on the property ladder and subsequently assisted them in paying debts as a result of the austerity measures.
  • Emigration costs
  • Financially - no jobs cannot get social welfare
  • As both of our children bought houses during the boom they are in massive negative equity, we are having to help them financially, by providing food, household goods and clothing, we mind our 2 grandchildren and we by food, clothes, nappies, medicines
  • Our daughter is a national school-teacher and like us, is also suffering financially because of austerity, so much so, that she needed our help to assist her with a deposit on her new home.
  • Just to live
  • Helping with school and extra curricular activities for grandchildren.
  • Two boys unemployed. - One now in college responsible for fees and accommodation -one other residing at home responsible for accommodation and pocket money
  • One of my Garda sons bought a near derelict cottage. He could not afford the entire renovation costs. I paid for a lot of the materials and bought a caravan to live on site while I did the renovation work. My daughters’ electrician husband became unemployed and they with their two children are living with us. All of this has cost me a lot of money.
  • Provide a loan to my son to pay off credit card bills, mind two grandchildren on a weekly basis because they cannot afford child care
  • Two of three who left home for the work place have returned home to live as they lost their jobs two years ago and have not succeeded in getting employment since.
  • They are rearing young children so we buy most of their cloths give them little treats which the parents are not in a position to give them

Have you had to seek financial support from the state or from family members as a result of austerity measures introduced by Government?

  • 13% said yes

How has austerity affected you/your family?

  • My health has been affected in that my dental care, the provision of a prosthetic limb, which I require as a result of amputation in the line of duty, will be beyond my means. I suffer severe back pain as a result of an assault when there was no such thing as compensation for work related injuries. I had to pay for prosthetic limbs down through the years greatly diminishing my funds/savings. I fully funded two children through third level and funded three more after abolition of fees. Severe pain in the early 90's forced me to retire on reaching 30 years service with no additions to pension. My pain and disablement prevented me from working unsocial hours. I have now received notice that my medical card is to be reviewed and the January legislation in that matter puts me over the limit for qualification. I HAVE CONTEMPLATED SUICIDE!
  • (1) I can't afford to go to the GP when I have a health issues I stock pile them in the hope that all will keep (and be treatable) during the same visit. It's kind of Russian Roulette and I don't have any realistic hope of living much longer. In short, I expect it to see me into the grave sooner rather than later - but, that's the way of it. Indeed, as with the Landlords of the 19th century, if the truth be told the powers that be would be glad to be rid of me any my likes. (2) I have let my dental care go to pot because I can't afford that expense. (3) I live in constant fear - I rarely get decent nights sleep worrying about things like electricity bills, phone bills and keeping the car on the road.
  • Between Local Property Tax, USC, PSPR, Income Tax, Water Tax around the corner and a general increase in the cost of living over the past 5/6 years in the order of over 25% or more.
  • Finding it hard to pay new bills, like household Tax and Property Tax Reducing the amount of heating (Gas) and electricity we use - very little social life and very few holidays.
  • I have to get a job, I rarely go out to socialise and cannot afford to change my car.
  • I can’t afford to keep my son in Medical Aid. I now shop in LIDL and ALDI and second hand shops social life practically nil. I worry about my future and if I can afford to have my adult unemployed children living in the house.
  • Less disposable income, Deferred changing car, worry about employment prospects of family, wife buying cheaper cuts of meat - getting sick of mince! Reduced charity donations a result of pay cuts have turned down heating thermostat.
  • 1.Finance 2.Mental - health, worry 3.Uncertainty above future plans in a mess. No future
  • (1) A cut back on spending which adversely affects - (2) Social interaction with family/friends, which then leads to - (3) Unnecessary stress and upset at this time in life when we should be reflecting on the sacrifices we have made in the past for the good of the State.
  • Dispossessed of full entitlement worked and paid for with more cuts/charges to come. Disillusioned at lack of appreciation of Garda input into society. Cheated.

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