Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 15 May 2003

Vol. 566 No. 5

Written Answers. - Security of the Elderly.

Gay Mitchell

Question:

126 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 752 of 7 May 2003, when he will appoint a senior official of his Department to liaise with an organisation (details supplied) in Dublin 7, as already indicated by his Department, concerning the administrative delays in processing their applications for grants to provide security and social support for older people; the number of persons involved in these outstanding applications received; the date these applications were received; when these grants will be awarded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13236/03]

Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Éamon Ó Cuív)

The matter referred to in the Deputy's question is already receiving attention from senior officials in my Department. As the Deputy will appreciate, my Department has a responsibility to ensure that all criteria are adhered to in administering grant schemes, particularly in relation to the submission by applicant groups of satisfactory accounts and documentation in respect of grants paid. With regard to the delay in processing the application from the organisation referred to by the Deputy, my Department has initiated an inspection of the books, records and returns of that organisation, relating to the usage of grants paid in 2000 under the scheme. Pending the resolution of the applications and accounts process for the year 2000, consideration of applications for subsequent years from the organisation has been deferred.

Due to discrepancies in the material supplied, it is not possible to confirm the precise number of outstanding applications which relate to the years 2000, 2001 and 2002. However, having regard to the level of discrepancies, the likely number of applicants is estimated to be in the region of 2,000. When the result of the current inspection has been finalised, consideration will then be given to processing outstanding applications from the organisation concerned.