Vol. 552 No. 1
479 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs when funding will be made available to Security for the Elderly to fund security alarms for elderly persons living alone in the Dublin city area. [11354/02]
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 its commencement, a total of €32.5 million has been allocated to the scheme, which, to the end of 2000, has assisted some 80,482 individuals. In 2002 €4.4 million has been provided for the scheme.
Voluntary or community based groups seeking funding under the scheme of community support for older people must satisfy the defined eligibility criteria of the scheme, comply with Government tax clearance procedures and provide satisfactory accounts in respect of previously paid grants. An application for funding was received from the organisation mentioned in the Deputy's question in 2000 and again in 2001. However, as satisfactory accounts and other documentation were not submitted to my Department in respect of the grant issued in 1999, it was not possible to process the application further. My Department has been engaged in lengthy correspondence with the group on this matter and has now received the outstanding accounts. However, other documentation is currently outstanding. It is hoped to resolve this matter shortly. My officials will be in touch with the organisation in due course.
