Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 17 Nov 1998

Vol. 496 No. 6

Written Answers - Security of the Elderly.

John Gormley

Question:

350 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will make available any necessary top up funds to ensure the smooth operation of the grant scheme for home security for the elderly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23568/98]

John Gormley

Question:

351 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the work of a voluntary organisation (details supplied) with charitable status which provides services to older people and organisations dealing with the elderly; and the proposals, if any, he has to further support, resource and facilitate the work of this organisation. [23569/98]

Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern)

It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 350 and 351 together.

My Department has, since 1996, operated the scheme of community support for older people, the purpose of which is to provide funding for initiatives to improve the security and social support of vulnerable older people.

This funding is provided by way of a grant to voluntary groups and organisations, such as the group mentioned in the Deputy's question, which has undertaken to identify those elderly people in need of assistance under the scheme. When the scheme was originally established in 1996 it was considered that voluntary groups and organisations working closely with older people in the community were well-placed to identify those in the community in need of assistance under the scheme. To date, my Department has provided funding to some 1,300 voluntary organisations who have participated in the scheme and is currently processing applications for some 940 groups who have applied under this year's scheme.

A sum of £2 million was allocated to the scheme in the 1998 Estimates. A review of applications under the 1998 scheme indicated that some 940 applications had been received. Having reviewed the level of demand under the scheme this year I recently sought, and obtained, Government approval for the allocation of an additional £3 million to the scheme, bringing the total allocation in 1998 to £5 million. The allocation of these additional funds will allow the Department to assist a large number of people again this year and the regional offices of my Department are currently processing applications. They expect to be in a position soon to advise groups of the decision regarding their applications.

It should be noted that since its inception in 1996 a total of £12 million has been made available for this scheme and up to the end of 1997 some 36,000 people had been assisted by the scheme. It is anticipated that in excess of a further 20,000 people will be assisted this year. This means that since I came into office in July last year this Government has spent £10 million on the scheme as opposed to £2 million spent on it by the previous Government.

I am anxious to ensure that this scheme addresses the security needs of the most vulnerable people and that it provides this assistance in the most efficient and effective way possible. In this regard, the Department has, in consultation with the Departments of Finance and Health and Children, commissioned an independent review of the scheme which will consider how it is meeting its objectives and whether it is doing so in the most efficient and effective way possible. The final report from the consultants will be available later this year.