Vol. 515 No. 6
218 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the amount of funding provided to date for personal alarms for senior citizens; the proposed funding for 2000; if he has satisfied himself that the amount of funding meets the number of applications received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6724/00]
My Department has since 1996 operated the scheme of community support for older people, the purpose of which is to improve the security and social support of vulnerable older people. This funding is provided by way of grant aid to voluntary groups and organisations who have undertaken to identify those elderly people in need of assistance under the scheme.
Since I came to office in mid-1997 I have allocated a total of £13 million to this scheme which allowed some 53,000 individuals to receive assistance under the scheme. I am anxious to ensure that this scheme continues to address the security needs of the most vulnerable older people in our society and, accordingly, I have allocated a sum of £5 million for this scheme again in 2000.
I propose to have advertised the scheme in both the national and provincial press by the end of March, at which time any voluntary or community-based organisation working with or providing support for vulnerable older people may submit applications for funding. The allocation of £5 million for this year is based on expenditure incurred in previous years. I am satisfied that the allocation is sufficient to allow my Department to make a meaningful response to worthwhile applications and to assist a large number of people again this year.
