Vol. 484 No. 4
102 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the plans, if any, he has to change the arrangements whereby elderly persons in possession of alarms are obliged to pay, or have paid on their behalf, £100 pounds per annum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22482/97]
The scheme of community support for older people was established to address the security needs of vulnerable older people in the community by providing once-off funding for certain types of security equipment.
Under the scheme once-off grants can be made towards the cost of small scale physical security equipment such as strengthening of doors and windows, window locks, door chains and locks and security equipment and socially monitored alarm systems.
Funding is not available under the scheme for conventional intruder-burglar alarms.
The maximum grant available under this scheme is 90 per cent of the cost and grants are provided only towards the once-off cost of obtaining and installing the necessary equipment. Under the terms of the scheme it is not possible to provide funding towards the ongoing monitoring fees charged by the monitoring companies.
