Vol. 530 No. 2
119 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if his Department will pay for, or provide support towards the cost incurred by persons (details supplied) in Dublin 12 for an emergency monitoring or response facility. [3515/01]
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 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 £18 million to this scheme, which to the end of 2000 had allowed some 65,000 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 a sum of £5 million has been provided for the scheme in my Department's Estimates for 2001. Under the terms of the scheme grant aid is available towards the purchase and/or installation cost of 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" alarm system which is operated via the telephone and is worn around the neck or wrist.
Under the terms of the scheme funding is available towards the once-off costs of obtaining or installing the relevant equipment. Annual monitoring fees or maintenance fees associated with socially-monitored alarm systems are not provided for under the scheme. As these fees are levied by private service providers, my Department has no role in setting or abolishing such fees.
A review of the scheme was completed in April 1999 and there are no plans to amend the scheme.
