Vol. 562 No. 4
422 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if his attention has been drawn to a backlog of as much as seven months regarding the security for the elderly scheme; and her plans to address the problem. [6131/03]
My Department is responsible for the administration of the scheme of community support for older people. Under this scheme, funding is directed through voluntary groups towards the provision of socially monitored alarms and small-scale physical security equipment to older vulnerable people in the community. The 2002 scheme was advertised in the provincial papers in the week commencing 26 June 2002 and in the daily papers on 27 June 2002. The closing date for receipt of completed applications was 2 August 2002. Applications were assessed by officials from the regional offices of the Department of Social and Family Affairs, who administered the scheme locally on behalf of my Department in 2002. Payment issued to applicant groups who satisfied the required criteria by the end of 2002.
