Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 13 Dec 2000

Vol. 528 No. 2

Written Answers. - Security of the Elderly.

Willie Penrose

Question:

76 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will consider providing financial supports through the community development programme to local community bodies to provide additional security for vulnerable senior citizens. [29713/00]

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

My Department operates a number of community development support programmes, namely: community development programme; family and community services resource centre programme; programme of core-funding to locally based community and family support groups.

The purpose of these programmes is to provide seed money to enable local self-help groups to pilot initiatives identified as meeting new and emerging community needs. To be eligible for funding, groups must subscribe to a self-help, community development ethos and must involve intended beneficiaries in the management and design of the project. The programmes of support were devised to develop marginalised and disadvantaged people and their capacity to participate in society, rather than for the provision of services. Voluntary groups seeking inclusion in any of the above mentioned programmes of support are required to have an anti-poverty focus and to promote the participation of people experiencing poverty and exclusion.

They are also required to illustrate the extent to which their particular project addresses poverty and disadvantage.

While the provision of funding for the purpose of providing additional security for vulnerable senior citizens does not come within the remit of the community development support programmes, 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 aid to voluntary groups and organisations who have under taken 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. An additional £5 million was again provided for the scheme in 2000. Information pertaining to this year's scheme is currently being compiled and will be made available in 2001. I am committed to ensuring that this scheme continues to address the security needs of the most vulnerable older people in our society and accordingly a sum of £5 million has been provided for the scheme in my Department's estimates for 2001.

I propose to advertise the scheme in both the national and provincial press early in 2001, at which time any voluntary or community-based organisation working with or providing support for vulnerable older people may submit applications for funding.