ESB Retired Staff Association
Dublin Region Branch
Newsletter October 2008
Welcome to New Members
In this our first newsletter for some time we would like to express our appreciation and extend a warm welcome to all of the new members who have joined our Association over the last number of months. This influx of members resulted from the publicity we received through the Electrical Mail and we would like to thank the Editor and all those involved in the organisation of this. For the benefit of our new members we will in this newsletter provide a resume of the organisation of our Association its objects and activities
Our Membership
Our Dublin Branch includes ESB retired staff from the former Dublin City, Dublin North West and Dublin South Districts as well as retired staff from TOD, North Wall, Ringsend and Poolbeg Power Stations. We have at present over 700 members in our Branch at present.
The Object of our Branch is to promote the the welfare of ESB retired staff of the Dublin Region Branch. The Branch will generally ensure that any measures considered necessary for the welfare of our members shall be raised with the appropriate authorities through our own Committee or more likely through our National Executive Committee. While we don’t have negotiation rights as such, the Management of the ESB do meet us if the occasion arises.
Our Committee is comprised of four fficers and five members Tom Sexton is Chairman, Peter Farrelly is vice Chair Paddy Philpot is Secretary and Jimmy Murphy is Treasurer. The committee members include Margaret Nolan, Garry Ivory, Jimmy Bisset, Mick Scully. and Michael Mc Namara.
Our Committee meets once a month during the year except for a break during the summer and discuss items relevant to our own Branch. We hold our monthly draw at these monthly meeting. The draw is for 1 prize of 65 Euro and four prizes of 35 Euro. (At Christmas we have two draws.) We would also prepare proposals for the National Executive Committee.
National Executive Committee. (NEC)
The NEC meets every three months and it is comprised of representatives from all of the branches throughout the country. Each Branch contributes to the Association’s funds.
We have five representatives on the National Executive of the Association(NEC) which meets every three months. Paddy Philpot is Vice Chairman of the NEC, Garry Ivory is its Treasurer and we contribute 500 Euro to the funds each year.
The NEC also has a General Purposes Committee(GPC) which meets as circumstances dictate and will make decisions in emergency situations and more usually bring back proposals to the NEC. Members of the GPC would normally meet with ESB Management if the necessity for a meeting arose. Paddy Philpot and Garry Ivory are members of the GPC. Dan Hickey from Limerick Branch is Chairman of the Association and Seamus O’ Donohoe of Head Office Branch is it’s Secretary .
The Irish Senior Citizens Parliament and the National Federation of Pensioners Associations
The ESB Retired staff Association are members of the above organisations. These are organisations that represent older people at national level. The ISCP is composed of all older peoples organisations in the twenty six counties. Paddy Philpot is an elected member of the Executive of this body. The NFPA is as the name suggest is an organisation catering for people who are receiving occupational pensions. These two organisations receive grants from Government to help with funding. The ISCP depend solely on this funding while the NFPA receive funding from their constituent organisations. Both bodies prepare budget submissions and lobby Government for concessions for older people generally and are asked to contribute to consultancy documents and green papers when the Government are preparing legislation etc. Most of the work done by the members of these organisations is done on a voluntary basis. We are not affiliated to ‘Age Action’ another older peoples organisation that gets most of the publicity. ‘Age Action is very much a commercial operation with paid executives and funded by the government and others. They run charity shops that develop finance for them. They do provide some community services for older people
The issues for older people
All the organisation representing older people are facing the same issues,namely the improvement of income and pensions, health services and general living conditions and facilities. They bring these issues to Government through budget submissions and representations to Social Partnership. The ISCP and Age Action are members of the Community Group in the Social Partnership organisation This year as you are aware the budget has been brought forward to October because of the downturn in the economy and many of the budget submissions have not been presented although there has been the a meeting with the Department of Social Welfare to receive submissions. We may have the budget result before you receive this newsletter
Income and Pension improvements are one of the main issues and they appear in the submissions each year. State Pensions effect most older people and the pressure comes on government to raise the State pension in line with inflation. The Programme for Government promised that this Pension would be increased to Ɛ300 by the end of their term in office in 2012. Most organisations claim that this will not cover inflation. The usual claim is that the State Pension should be 40% of the average industrial wage.
The concern for us and for others on occupational pensions is that the downturn and particularly the drop in equity shares will effect our pension scheme. The Pension Board have very strict rules relating relating to Defined Benefit pension schemes as ours is and they insist the fund must be maintained to a standard that requires the fund to maintain a level to pay all its members their pensions if the fund was to be wound up. So far our fund has performed well and is secure.
One of the concessions gained for older people has been the tax exemption for people over 65. This year it allows married people over 65s to earn 40000 euro tax free and should your pension be over that it works out cheaper to opt for the exemption rate which is 40% of the amount over 40000 rather than apply for the normal tax, It is easy to check this by comparing the amount of tax you pay on both systems when you receive your P60.
Health Services is a major issue for older people. Figures are quoted continually relating to the demographics for the number of people over 65 who will be alive in 2050 in comparison to to the number of workers. We are concerned with the present position where the Health Service is not providing the facilities that all older people require. The cost of Nursing Homes is outrageous and the system which was intended to relieve this situation the ‘Fair Deal’ has been put on the long finger due to the downturn and lack of agreement on the details, particularly in relation to using a part of the value of one’s home to pay for it.
In the meantime we are aware that most older people would prefer to stay in their own homes rather than go into a nursing home. While there has been some movement in some areas of the country to provide this home care, many people needing it, either find it is not available in their area or when available it is inadequate. There are commercial firms now in the market to provide this type of care with the approval of the HSE but this too, is expensive.
We are very privileged as ESB pensioners to have the Medical Provident Fund. It gives us the opportunity to avail of private medical care so that we don’t have to depend on the State. Dan Hickey Chairman of the NEC is one of the elected Trustees of the fund. However the Fund cannot help us when we need long term care and it is essential that we keep up the pressure on our TDs and Government to improve the situation for the future.
Services for Older People the following outlines some of the services available to older people
Income Supports includes the Living Alone Allowance which is payable if you are living alone and have some form of State Social Welfare Payment.
The over 80 Pension increase is paid automatically if you have a State Pension and you reach 80 years.
House Benefits Package from the Department of Social Welfare includes the Gas or Electricity Allowance and the Free Television License is paid to does who are over 70 years. ESB Pensioners under 70 who do not have any kind of Social Welfare Pension receive these benefits through the ESB.
Free Travel comes at 66 years and is available without time restrictions and in Northern Ireland if you apply for the Senior Smartness Card .
National Fuel Scheme is a means tested scheme to help with home heating costs if you have some forms of Social Welfare payment. If you happen to live in an area where there is a ban on smokey coal you may be eligible for a smokeless fuel supplement.
Carers if you are providing full time care to someone who is ill or incapacitated you may qualify for a carers allowance
Warmer Homes Schemes and Greener Home schemes provide services such as attic insulation and draught-proofing through community based organisations. Greener Homes Scheme helps homeowners who intend to purchase a new renewable energy heating system for a new or existing home ‘Sustainable Energy Ireland” administers both these schemes.
Security Systems:- help with funding for things such as door and window locks, monitored security systems, smoke alarms and security lighting is available through the Scheme of Community Support for Older People is administered through Social and Community Groups such as Age Action.
Refuse Charges;- Low income Households are eligible for a waiver on waste charge. Income Tax credit can be claimed on these charges.
Housing Grants are available for older people and for people with disabilities. If a home needs to be adapted to make it suitable for someone with a disability you may qualify for a grant from The Housing Aid for Older People scheme or the Mobility Aid Grant Scheme. To apply for these schemes contact the Housing Department of your local Authority.
Home Care Package is provided by the HSE . To apply for this care you must contact the Community Care Services Section of the HSE. The help you get may include home help and public health nursing. In theory everyone with a medical is eligible for this scheme but as already mentioned in this newsletter availability varies from one area to another.
Medical Card everyone over 70 years is presently entitled to the medical card. Under 70 you must satisfy a means test unless you suffer from some particular illnesses. Having a medical also means you not pay the Health Levy .
Further information on other benefits for older people can be sourced from:-
The Citizens Information Board are excellent at providing information on all benefits,grants and entitlements. Their Head Office is at Georges Quay House, 43 Townsend St Dublin 2. Their Web site is www.citizensinformationboard .ie. and is a fund of information. Their telephone Lo-call is 1890777121.or 6059000.
Social and Family Affairs are very helpful. Their Lo-call telephone is 1890 500000. They are in College Rd Sligo. Web site is www.welfare.ie
Health Service Executive can be reached at 1850 241 850 web site www.hse.ie.
Our Hon Secretary is Paddy Philpot and he can be reached at 01 8476587 or by E-Mail at patnlaura@yahoo.ie.
Tom Sexton Chairman
Paddy Philpot Hon Secretary
