Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 Mar 1999

Vol. 502 No. 6

Written Answers. - Community Care.

Jim O'Keeffe

Question:

262 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if the review into the scheme for community support for older people has been completed; if the final report will be published; and if voluntary and community bodies will be given an opportunity to submit proposals on the future operation of the scheme. [8882/99]

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.

Since its inception 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 Department 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 published shortly. The future plans for the operation of the scheme in 1999 will be determined in the light of the outcome of this review.

The views of many voluntary and community bodies on the scheme of community support for older people have already been requested by the consultants in developing the findings of the report. The consultants conducted a postal survey of 250 voluntary and community groups which received funding under the scheme in 1997. These groups were geographically spread in proportion to the overall spread of groups around Ireland. One the many questions asked of the groups in the survey was an outline of their proposal on the future of the scheme. In addition, a number of meetings were held with voluntary and community groups to supplement the survey.