'We just want to support our families' - Dublin firefighter on fears for his and his colleagues' pensions

Frontline workers, including firefighters and uniformed personnel, are urging the government to reinstate a supplementary pension that was eliminated over a decade ago. This pension was crucial for bridging income gaps until workers reached the state pension age of 66. Currently, many are facing a substantial income reduction of approximately 50% in their early retirement years, hindering their ability to support their families. Union representatives have approached the government, claiming that promises were made during election campaigns to address this issue but remain unfulfilled.

"We’d like to be able to retire with money that can support us after we’ve dedicated our careers to service, but we’re receiving 50pc less than our colleagues did post-2013."

"The supplementary pension bridged the gap until they reached state pension age, which is now 66. This gap is now greatly impacting our lives and financial security."

Read at Irish Independent