Workers lose over €13,000, plus benefits like free travel and the fuel allowance, every time the state pension age is raised by a year. And it costs an additional €11,500 if they have a dependent spouse, according to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU).

ICTU, which has called this the “biggest ever cut to the social safety net for working people,” is calling on the Government to reverse its decision to increase the pension age again in 2021.

If implemented, plans to increase the age at which we’re eligible for the State pension to 67 in 2021, and 68 in 2028, will place Ireland at the worst end of international norms.

ICTU says this is unnecessary, not least because Ireland has one of the youngest populations in Europe.

The threshold last rose from 65 to 66 in 2014.