Fine Gael yesterday outlined plans to spend an extra £428 million a year on services for older people.
The party leader, Mr Michael Noonan, said the State had an obligation to guarantee social services for workers and their families in a free market economy. The Fine Gael policy document promises a medical card for everyone over 65, a tax-free investment scheme for people who work after retirement, an easing of the means test for the carer's allowance and an extra £113 million in help with nursing home fees.
The party's policy director, Mr Richard Bruton, said the extra spending would be financed out of "buoyancy" in the economy.
Mr Noonan said the proposals were based on an assumed growth rate in the economy of 56 per cent per annum.
"The Celtic Tiger was built on the backs of parents and grandparents," he said. The State should be able to say to people: "You won't have to worry about your old age. Fine Gael will ensure you can look forward to decent pensions."
He continued: "If people at Gateway are prepared to accept redundancy and come out smiling, the State has certain obligations as well. If Irish workers are prepared to take the risk of a free economy labour market, the State should say you don't have to worry about healthcare for yourself and your spouse."
In addition to the medical card for everyone over 65, the document proposes a regular health check for older people, prioritising orthopaedic, cataract and heart bypass operations and "fast-tracking" of older people in emergency departments.
Fast-tracking, the document says, will be achieved by separating facilities for "genuine emergencies" from those for people "whose problems are as a result of over-indulgence". It does not say what will be provided for the latter group.
The tax-free allowance for people who work after retirement will apply to money invested annually in a "security fund" for use later. The rate of the non-contributory (means-tested) old-age pension would be increased by £10.50 a week to bring it up to that of the contributory pension.
Among measures to enable people to continue living in the community will be a doubling of the home-help budget.
The carer's allowance will be increased by allowing carers to have an income of £370 a week before they lose part of the allowance. However, the document goes on to say that a half-rate carer's allowance will be paid to those carers who are already in receipt of social welfare benefits.
Tax relief will be introduced to make it easier for older people to move from large homes to more suitable accommodation. There will also be a scheme to allow people to sell their homes and move to sheltered accommodation.
The nursing-home subvention will be based on the average nursing-home charge in the local area and nobody will be required to sell their home. If, however, they sell their home to pay nursing-home fees the State will guarantee to meet their costs if that money is used up.
There will also be a major investment in rehabilitation and respite care facilities, the policy document promises.
pomorain@irish-times.ie