MY BUDGET: PENSIONER:PENSIONER BETH Nunan is disappointed about the abolition of the Christmas bonus from the social welfare budget.

Ms Nunan (76), from Blackrock in Dublin, said she was concerned that the State pension had effectively been reduced by €200 a year with the move.

“I do not think it is a fair budget. More than 50 per cent of old people depend on the State pension as their main source of income and that has been effectively reduced by the abolition of the Christmas bonus,” she said.

The change will have less of an impact on her as she manages to live off her husband’s pension as well as the State pension.

“It is for those totally dependent on the State pension I am concerned about. The gap between the rich and the poor is widening,” she said.

Ms Nunan added that she had not seen a reduction in costs despite the Department of Finance saying consumer prices are expected to fall 4 per cent this year. “I have not seen any reductions. I bought a loaf of bread yesterday for €1.26 and a litre of milk for €1.14 and I think that is still relatively high.”