asked the Minister for Local Government if he is satisfied that all new homes provided for the aged now contain a warning button to summon help when required.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Home Alarm System.
53.
Because of the devolution to housing authorities of responsibility for the planning and provision of the bulk of their housing schemes, up-to-date information is not available in my Department as to whether they are currently providing warning buttons in new houses for elderly persons. Housing authorities generally were, however, requested in 1970 to adopt the recommendations of the Inter-Departmental Committee on the Care of the Aged, which included the provision in all housing for elderly persons of an appropriate alarm system, and I would hope that they are all doing so. As I explained in my reply to the Deputy's Question No. 24 of 14th November, 1973, on the subject, the position about dwellings provided by the private sector is that, it is a matter for the bodies providing the accommodation to decide on the provision of an alarm system.
Would the Minister not consider in the next Local Government Act making this a compulsory requirement on local authorities?
No, but I agree that local authorities should be periodically reminded of the necessity to provide these alarms. I have seen quite a number of them working and I think it is an excellent idea, something that should be provided. Local authorities do not have to be forced by law to do it and reminding them should be sufficient to ensure that it is done.
Some old people's flats are being opened in Ballyfermot today and I shall look very carefully at them.
So shall I. If the Deputy does not delay me, both of us will be in time.
Would the Minister consult with his colleague, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social Welfare, regarding a cheap, efficient, self-contained alarm system now being marketed and to be seen in Dublin which was invented recently by a man from Droichead Nua? Would he see if a grant would be available to Kildare County Council or if it would be advisable to instal this in new houses which have been recently given to old people in Newbridge?
I suggest that the Deputy should get in touch with the Parliamentary Secretary who is a very reasonable man to whom he can talk.
I have been in touch with him but this comes under the Minister's Department because it relates to new houses for old people in Newbridge. Can the Kildare County Council install them with help from the Minister?
If Kildare County Council want to provide them, they can do so. They can so provide in the planning of the houses. If they do that, it would be a matter between themselves and the Department of Social Welfare as to whether there would be a grant but I am sure the cost would not be very great. I agree that things like this should be included.
It is hardly fair of the Minister to be Pilate-like in this manner and wash his hands of the matter. If he is sincere in thinking it would be helpful he should not pass the buck at this stage.
I will carry my own responsibility but out of 70 or 80 questions I had today more than half of them referred to duties of local authorities. Members of local authorities should accept their own responsibilities and make the case to their own local authorities. If they come to me, I will deal with them officially.
Do not complain about your work; you are well paid for it.
I am well paid for it and I am earning it.
All you want is a bit of help behind you.
I hope the Deputy is earning his few bob.
(Interruptions.)
Please, Deputy Power, there is no need for belligerence. Order, please.
My constituents are satisfied with what I am doing but the Minister's were not so sure that he was earning it the last time. He had to enlarge the constituency.
I have tried to be courteous to the Deputy and I usually found it easy to be courteous to him but I shall have to revise my opinion now and if he wants to be abusive——
You revised the constituencies.
——I can give him very short answers in future.
(Interruptions.)
A Deputy
Did you revise your Mercedes?
We only followed the practice of our predecessors. They did not object to their Mercedes, even when things were a lot worse than they are now.
That must be the quote of the week. They were never worse.
(Interruptions.)
Order, please.
Perhaps it is out of order, but nobody in my constituency has objected to me going into it with a Mercedes and I have not objected to a Parliamentary Secretary going in. We had not to remove somebody out of it before we allowed a Mercedes in, as happened Deputy Cunningham.