Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 3 Feb 1999

Vol. 499 No. 4

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

145 Ms Shortal l asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the hardship and distress which has been caused to many older people by the reduction in grants from 90 per cent to 64 per cent in relation to the scheme of community support for older people in view of the savings made in his Department in 1999; if he will restore the 90 per cent grants; if he will extend the pilot scheme in view of the many elderly people still in need of assistance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3020/99]

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

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 grant to voluntary groups and organisations who have undertaken to identify those elderly people in need of assistance under the scheme. In general, grants under the scheme cover from 50 per cent to 90 per cent of the once-off cost of the purchase and/or installation of the necessary security equipment.

A sum of £2 million was initially allocated to the scheme in the 1998 Estimates. Having reviewed the level of demand under the scheme last year I 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. This is on top of another £5 million paid on this scheme in 1997. While the maximum grant available under this scheme is 90 per cent of the total cost, it is not possible to guarantee this level of funding in respect of all applications received under the scheme. The actual amount of the grant varies in the light of individual circumstances and needs and the overall demands which must be met. It is a fact that not all applications received under the 1996 and 1997 schemes were funded at a level of 90 per cent. No decision was made by me to change the basis for making awards under the scheme in 1998. Therefore, I am satisfied that the level of funding made available in 1998 was sufficient to allow my Department to make a meaningful response to worthwhile applications and to assist a large number of people again that year.

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 were assisted in 1998. This means that since I came into office this Government has spent £10 million on the scheme as opposed to the £2 million spent 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, my Department has, in consultation with the Departments of Finance and Health and Children, commissioned an independent review of the scheme which will consider how the scheme 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 shortly and the future operation of the scheme will be determined in the light of the outcome of this review.