Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 December 2009
282 Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of panic alarms issued by agencies under the remit of his Department; if the scheme is still issuing such alarms as of today’s date; if so, the body to whom a person will make an application within each constituency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46749/09]
View answer284 Deputy Seán Fleming asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his plans to make funding available in respect of personal alarms for elderly people living on their own; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46972/09]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 282 and 284 together.
This Scheme of Community Support for Older People is administered and funded by my Department with the services delivered locally by community and voluntary groups. It currently provides support to these organisations to fund the once-off installation costs of socially monitored alarms, small items of physical security and in the case of qualifying older people living on our offshore islands, interior emergency lighting. The socially monitored alarm system remains the property of the organisation that receives the grant aid.
The Scheme had funded 410 community groups to date in 2009 providing 6,235 older persons with security equipment with the vast majority of them receiving the socially monitored alarm. The Scheme will remain open until revised arrangements are put in place in 2010. Details of all payments made to beneficiary groups under the Scheme are published monthly on a county basis on my Department's website at www.pobail.ie.
283 Deputy Paul Connaughton asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if security lights will be provided for an elderly person (details supplied) under the community alert scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46874/09]
View answerMy Department is responsible for the Scheme of Community Support for Older People. The Scheme supports qualifying older people, aged 65 and older, by providing funding towards personal alarms and other items of security and safety equipment including smoke alarms. Applications should be made through the individual applicant's local community or voluntary organisation. My Department has contacted the relevant local community group operating the Scheme in the area in question and this group will be in touch with the person referred to with a view to submitting an application on their behalf.
Question No. 284 answered with Question No. 282.
