Ring slams 13-fold increase in pensions scheme
Fine Gael TD Michael Ring has claimed that a state pension scheme is costing 13 times its original estimate because of a government blunder.
Mr Ring said the cost of the pre-1953 pension scheme had spiralled because the Government forgot to take account of the eligibility of Irish people living abroad.
Mr Ring said today that, in 2000, the Government estimated the cost of the scheme at €8.9m annually, but last year, the total cost reached €113.1m.
