Written Answers. - Support for Older People.
Peadar Clohessy
Question:
50
Mr. Clohessy
asked the
Minister for Social Welfare
the plans, if any, he has for direct assistance towards the cost of burglar alarm systems for old age pensioners living alone who do not qualify for a tax exemption.
[18593/96]
Mary Harney
Question:
78
Miss Harney
asked the
Minister for Social Welfare
the number of persons who have to date availed of the scheme of community support for older people; the methods in force for conveying information in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18594/96]
John O'Leary
Question:
88
Mr. O'Leary
asked the
Minister for Social Welfare
the measures, if any, he is taking to ensure the safety of older people from assault and theft in winter.
[18572/96]
Máirín Quill
Question:
95
Miss Quill
asked the
Minister for Social Welfare
the plans, if any, he has to extend the scheme of community support for older people to persons of all ages who are vulnerable or incapacitated and living alone; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18598/96]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 50, 78, 88 and 95 together.
In my reply to Priority Question No. 43 on today's Order Paper, I outlined the current position with regard to the scheme of support for older people and my plans for an awareness campaign to be launched next week to provide elderly people with specific information and advice on how to improve personal security both inside and outside their homes. The awareness campaign is a joint one with my colleague the Minister for Justice and is being co-ordinated by my Department in conjunction with the Garda Síochána who have primary responsibility for protecting older people — or any other section of the community — from criminal assault or attack.
The campaign will involve a mailshot to 320,000 pensioners and is being co-ordinated by the Departments of Justice and Social Welfare. The mailshot will include a letter signed by both Ministers and a number of relevant information leaflets etc. on security issues for older people.
Subsequent to the recommendation made by the Special Task Force on Security for the Elderly for a £2 million grant scheme, I established a national advisory committee, on which the National Council for the Elderly, the Irish Association of Victim Support, the Reach Out campaign, Muintir na Tíre, the Irish Countrywomen's Association and the Garda Síochána (Neighbourhood Watch) are represented, to advise on a suitable scheme that would ensure that the available funds are targeted at the most vulnerable older people and the best possible value for money is achieved. On the basis of the advice of this advisory committee and taking into account the amount of money available and the cost of security equipment, I decided that funding could be provided for:
— small-scale physical security equipment such as strengthening of doors and windows, window locks, door chains and locks and security lighting; and
— socially monitored alarm systems.
It was not intended that the scheme would provide funding towards the cost of conventional burglar alarm systems. The strong advice available to me from the advisory committee and the Garda Síochána is that conventional burglar alarms are of limited use to vulnerable elderly people living alone.
As the scheme came about as a direct result of the Special Task Force on Security for the Elderly, it was intended to provide funding for older people, which for the purpose of the scheme we took to be anyone over the age of 65 years living alone or living in households made up exclusively of older people or older people and other vulnerable and dependent people. Priority in allocating the funds is being given to the most vulnerable older people. Vulnerability is being defined in terms of advanced age, disability, isolation and those who have previously been victims of crime. I have no plans to extend the scheme other than to the older people for whom it was intended.
The scheme, entitled a scheme of community support for older people was advertised on Wednesday 29 May 1996 in the national newspapers. The scheme is open to any voluntary or community-based organisation working with or providing support for vulnerable older people. Information on the scheme was disseminated through my Department i.e. headquarters, regional and local offices and through the networks of the various organisations represented on the national advisory committee.
The deadline for receipt of applications was 28 June 1996. This was to allow time for my Department to assess all applications and to ensure that those most at risk benefit from the available funds before the onset of the winter months. The scheme is being administered in each of my Department's regions with the aid of a regional advisory committee which mirrors the composition of the national advisory committee referred to above.
A total of 425 applications have been received from voluntary organisations catering for approximately 11,103 individuals. To date, 297 groups have been approved for funding catering for approximately 6,263 individuals. Applications received after the formal closing date were and are still been considered, in the light of resources still available under the scheme. It is expected that all the available funds will be spent very shortly.
