Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 4 Mar 1999

Vol. 501 No. 5

Written Answers. - Community Development Programme.

Denis Naughten

Question:

98 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the plans, if any, he has to provide a community development projects office in County Roscommon; the location of this office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6549/99]

Denis Naughten

Question:

99 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will provide a community welfare projects office for the Ballaghaderreen, Stokestown and Castlerea areas; when this office will be approved; the location of this office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6550/99]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 98 and 99 together.

Partnership 2000 provides for the identification of 30 priority areas for the expansion of the community development programme. I have already announced details of areas that have been identified in the regions outside of the Eastern and Southern regions.

As already announced the Castlerea, Ballaghadereen and Strokestown area of Roscommon has been approved in principle for a community development project.

The precise location of the project's office will be a matter for the management committee, once it has been brought together by the regional support agency tasked with responsibility for the necessary pre-development work. This process will be undertaken in consultation with local voluntary and community groups.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

100 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he has received the report from the consultants regarding the scheme for community support for older people; if not, when he will give a decision on his future plans for the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6558/99]

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.

Under the scheme, grants are available 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 – such as the pendant or panic button alarm system which is operated via the telephone and is worn around the wrist or neck.

When this government came into office in June 1997, the multi-annual budgets for the years 1997, 1998 and 1999 for this scheme had been set by the previous rainbow Government at £2 million in each year. In 1997, I requested the Government to increase this £2 million for that year by £3 million to £5 million and that was agreed. 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.

Since its inception in 1996 a total of £12 million has been made available for this scheme and up to the end of 1998 some 56,000 people had been assisted by the scheme. This means that since I came into office, this Government has spent £10 million on this scheme as opposed to £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. An independent review of the scheme has been commissioned by my Department in consultation with the Departments of Finance and Health and Children, 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 at the end of March 1999. The future plans for the operation of the scheme in 1999 will be determined in the light of the outcome of this review.