Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 11 May 1999

Vol. 504 No. 4

Written Answers. - Security of the Elderly.

Nora Owen

Question:

226 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs when he will announce the conclusions of the valuation of the grant scheme of community support for older people; the proposals, if any, he has to make an allocation available for security equipment for the elderly in 1999; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12086/99]

Nora Owen

Question:

227 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will provide details of the amount of money administered by Community Alert each of the years from 1996 to 1998 in relation to the scheme of community support for older people; the number of units which received grants for this purpose; the number of elderly people covered by these grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12087/99]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 226 and 227 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 grant to voluntary groups and organisations such as St. Vincent de Paul, Neighbourhood Watch and Community Alert 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 "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 £12.6 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.

Details of grants paid under the scheme to voluntary groups and organisations, including units of Community Alert, up to the end of 1998 are held in the Oireachtas Library for the information of members.

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 has been received and is currently being examined in my Department. I hope to be in a position to make an announcement on the matter in the near future.