I thank you, a Cheann Comhairle, for giving me this opportunity to raise this very important issue this evening and thank the Minister of State for coming into the House to respond. The number of attacks on elderly people has increased in recent times and this unacceptable and despicable practice must be stamped out. All the resources of the Garda Síochána must be utilised so that our senior citizens are allowed to live in safety and security.
There has always been a traditional respect for the elderly, but recent events in urban and rural areas are a source of serious concern for public representatives, the Garda Síochána and community leaders. Old people living alone are now afraid to open the door, particularly at night. There are ruthless thugs who think nothing of viciously assaulting these vulnerable people. These attacks are now becoming prevalent throughout the country. For instance, in my city of Cork this week an 81 year old woman was mugged in broad daylight in the grounds of a church. Very often these attacks are motivated by robbery and, while in many cases the amounts of money stolen are small, these attacks leave an indelible scar, physically and mentally, on the victims. Very often these attacks can trigger off a deterioration in health for many of our senior citizens and in some cases that has proved fatal.
These attacks are vicious and cowardly and must be condemned outright. I would like to pay tribute to the gardaí involved with Neighbourhood Watch and Community Alert. They are playing a major role in trying to alleviate the fear many of our old people experience. The system of a register which some Garda stations carry out where the elderly living alone are recorded and checked from time to time is very good. This is being carried out at my local Garda station at Gurranebraher, Cork, and is proving very effective. Many of our elderly are reluctant to instal a telephone due to the initial installation cost and maybe it is time the Department of Social Welfare looked seriously at the feasibility of providing this service for the old living alone and on fixed incomes.
While Neighbourhood Watch and Community Alert are at the development stage, there is now a very valid reason to see that extra resources are made available urgently to make sure all our elderly are properly protected from the crimninal element who prey on these vulnerable people. There is also responsibility on the general public to make sure they are protected. Very many of these people have contributed down the years to this nation. They have raised their families, paid their taxes and worked hard for this country. The least we can give them now is security, comfort and peace of mind in their declining years.
