Living standards for Irish pensioners 'among worst in EU'
Living standards for Ireland's 400,000 pensioners are among the worst in Western Europe, according to a study by the Government's economic think tank.
The Economic and Social Research Institute found that Ireland was spending around 5% of GNP on the pension system, compared to an average of around 10% in 15 EU countries.
It also found high levels of poverty among Irish pensioners, with 40% living on less than 60% of the average take-home pay of those in work.
The ESRI said this was double the average rate of 20% living on the same amount in the 15 countries that made up the EU before the accession of 10 news states last year.
