07/10/2026
https://www.facebook.com/share/1DFwt9RA38/
📣 Budget 2027 📣
Today, 6 October, media coverage and public statements from TDs have pointed to positive news on shingles vaccination in Budget 2027.
The The Irish Sun reported: “Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill secured funding in the budget to roll out free shingles vaccines for immunocompromised groups.” Its report also refers to people with underlying conditions and those over 65.
RTÉ News now reports that a phased programme is expected to begin next year, initially for people over 65 who are immunocompromised, before gradually expanding over time to all over-65s. Health Correspondent Fergal Bowers reports that a pricing proposal is being assessed by the Department of Health, with further details on timing and initial eligibility potentially available at tomorrow’s Government health budget briefing.
Colm Burke TD and Paula Butterly TD have both (today) publicly outlined the phased introduction of a major shingles vaccination programme for over-65s.
Active Retirement Ireland welcomes this positive news. We await further details from Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD confirming eligibility, funding, the start date and how the phased rollout will work.
❤️ THANK YOU to the 31,196 people who signed our petition calling for free access for everyone aged 65 and over, and to everyone who shared their experiences and supported the campaign. We will continue pressing for accessible and equitable delivery.
Other Budget 2027 measures announced today that affect older people include:
💶 Pensions: A €10 weekly increase, bringing the maximum personal State Pension (Contributory) rate to €309.30.
🏠 Living Alone Increase: A €3 weekly increase to €25, matching ARI’s specific ask.
🔥 Fuel Allowance: An increase to €43 a week, with the income threshold for single pensioners rising from €534 to €641 a week.
🎄 Christmas Bonus: Payment in the week beginning 7 December.
🤝 Home support: An additional 1.8 million hours, bringing the total to 28.5 million in 2027.
🍲 Community supports: Five additional Care and Repair service locations and Meals on Wheels funding rising to over €10 million.
🌡️ Energy and warmer homes: Increased investment in the Warmer Homes Scheme and enhanced retrofit and renewable-energy grants, including a boiler scrappage scheme. Other energy measures outlined include reduced carbon tax on kerosene and natural gas and continued fuel excise reductions until February.
💜 Carers: Weekly payments rising by €10, with Carer’s Allowance income disregards increasing to €1,150 for a single person and €2,300 for a couple. A €100 increase to the Home Carer Tax Credit has also been outlined.
♿ Disability supports: A new €500 Cost of Disability Payment, with the Minister aiming for payment by the end of March 2027 or as early as possible. We are seeking clarity on eligibility, including for older people receiving long-term disability payments.
👐 Disability services: An additional 191,000 home-support and personal-assistance hours, 489 residential care packages, 1,500 new day-service places, increased respite and additional staff. These hours are separate from the older-person home-support allocation above.
🚌 Mobility: The launch of a Vehicle Adaptation Scheme and investment in public transport. Eligibility and delivery details for the new scheme are still needed.
🕊️ Bereavement: The continuation of pension payments following a partner’s death will extend from six weeks to ten.
🏘️ Tax and housing: We are reviewing the detail of changes to income tax, rent tax credits, inheritance tax and savings and investment taxation, and what they will mean for older people in different circumstances.
☎️ Public services: €17 million for the Digital Transformation Fund. ARI will continue seeking accessible telephone, paper and face-to-face options alongside digital services.
These measures bring welcome support, but gaps remain.
The pension increase does not establish ARI’s requested benchmark of 34% of average weekly earnings, or a formal mechanism linking pension rates to wages and inflation. We have also not seen an announced extension of Fuel Allowance to 32 weeks or an increase to the Household Benefits Package.
Active Retirement Ireland will continue seeking clarity on delivery and progress on dental care, routine hearing tests, screening access, healthcare costs, medical card eligibility, and non-digital access to services.
We will update members as further details are confirmed.
