Joan Burton has said she will increase the state pension every year for the next five years if she is still in Government.

The Labour leader has said the pension will be increased by €5 a week, saying it is the least that older people deserve.

The plan is set to cost just over €100 million a year every year, meaning it would cost over €1.5bn in five years.

But Joan Burton has said that is a worthwhile use of public money: “I increased it as soon as we had the money to do so.

“Labour will use the strong economy to annually increase the pension, by at least five euros a week.

“It is the very least our older people deserve.”