Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 September 2004
1266 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many elderly persons do not have access to basic security items such as personal alarms to which they are entitled, due to the fact that the grants to cover these items have not been awarded. [21719/04]
View answer1268 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the position regarding the community support for older people scheme; if his attention has been drawn to the considerable difficulties posed by the cutbacks in funding for the scheme; if he will increase funding for the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21842/04]
View answer1273 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will review the application criteria for the grant scheme to improve the security and social support of vulnerable older persons; if he will take steps to ensure that the cap on funding to community groups is revised; if, in future, the advertised closing date will allow time for community groups to fulfil the criteria and return applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21923/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1266, 1268 and 1273, together.
The purpose of the scheme of community support for older people is to encourage and assist the community's support for older people by means of a community based grant scheme to improve the security of its older members. Funding under the scheme can be provided for small scale security equipment designed to strengthen points of entry to the dwelling, for security lighting and for the once-off cost of installing socially monitored personal alarm systems. This year the scheme has been extended to include smoke alarms. Burglar alarm systems are not covered by the scheme.
Following a review of the 2003 scheme by my Department a number of important changes were made to the scheme. The funding to any individual participant voluntary organisation was set at €30,000. In previous years a small number of organisations received sums in excess of this amount. However, the vast majority, 97%, of applicants were small community based voluntary groups which received sums less than €30,000. The average amount paid to groups in 2003 was less than €10,000. The purpose of this change is to re-focus the scheme on community groups and to re-direct resources towards smaller groups which have direct personal links with older people in their area and who are therefore better placed to understand and appreciate their needs. This change has no implications for the overall funding available for the scheme.
The 2004 scheme was advertised nationwide on 29 July 2004 with a closing date of 13 September 2004. I have indicated that given the nature of this scheme my Department will be flexible and understanding in relation to applications received after the official closing date. My Department is currently engaged in processing applications for the 2004 scheme and grants will issue to community groups at the earliest possible date.
In 1997-2004 some €30.88 million has been provided under this scheme to improve the security needs of older people. It is a measure of its success that a gradual fall-off in demand has been experienced as more people had their security needs met by the scheme. It is anticipated that the 2005 scheme will be advertised before June 2005, in order to allow greater time for groups to complete applications.
