Robert Troy
Question:1157. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection the minimum amount of pension income which a person resident here is expected to live off. [19609/21]
View answerWednesday, 21 April 2021
Questions (1157)
Written answers
The minimum essential standard of living, MESL, is an assessment, developed by the Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice, VPSJ, of the minimum income needed to live and partake in the social and economic norms of everyday life for various household types. My Department has partly funded the excellent, detailed work of the VPSJ for a number of years, and I find it extremely useful.
In 2020, the MESL for a single pensioner living in an urban environment was calculated to be €260.41 and income for such pensioners receiving the means-tested State Pension (non-contributory) with associated secondary benefits such as living alone increase, household benefits package, the fuel allowance and the telephone support allowance would exceed that threshold.
From an adequacy point of view, the Irish State pension is excellent at protecting pensioners from poverty, with CSO statistics showing that our pensioners are the age group least likely to be at risk of poverty.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.