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Housing Aid for the Elderly

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 April 2012

Wednesday, 18 April 2012

Questions (884)

Patrick Nulty

Question:

900 Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will confirm that he has cut the senior alert scheme grants for security lights, smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors; if he will confirm that the cutbacks also stated that groups will have a €30,000 grant ceiling under the scheme; if he will confirm that community groups were only informed of the cutback last Tuesday 27 and Wednesday 28 March that these cutbacks would come into effect from Friday 30 March, giving only three days notice; if he will urgently review this decision with a view to reversing these cutbacks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19057/12]

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Written answers

My Department manages the Seniors Alert Scheme which encourages and assists the community's support for older people by means of a community-based grant scheme to improve the security of people over 65 years of age.

The Scheme is administered by local community and voluntary groups with the support of my Department.

In 2011, grant support was available towards the purchase and installation of personal monitored alert systems (pendant alarms) and other items to improve the safety and security of the home (including monitored smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, internal emergency lighting and external security lighting).

Due to unprecedented demand for grant assistance under the Seniors Alert Scheme in 2011, the budget allocation of €2.35m was expended by the end of November 2011; there were a significant number of grant applications received in December 2011 that the Seniors Alert Unit was unable to grant-aid until the receipt of the budget allocation for 2012.

A significant portion of the 2012 budget allocation (€2.35m) was spent early in 2012 as a result of this unprecedented demand. The Seniors Alert Unit is also continually registering Community and Voluntary groups who wish to administer the Scheme and this will further increase the demand for funding in 2012.

As a result, my Department examined the operation of the scheme with the aim of ensuring its sustainability and an equitable distribution of funding country-wide. The following temporary changes were notified to groups on 26 March 2012, and took effect from 30 March 2012:

Funding will only be available for the purchase and installation of socially monitored alarms at a maximum of €250 per alarm (Maximum funding of €50 is also available for additional pendants and reinstallations).

Grants to Community and Voluntary groups will be capped at €30,000 per annum.

The aim of the Seniors Alert Scheme is to support independent living for those over 65 who live alone or who live with a person who is also over 65 years of age and of limited financial means. A key element of the Scheme is the provision of funding for a socially monitored alarm which supports this independence. Having regard to available funding in the current economic climate, the changes above will ensure that my Department can continue to maintain the Scheme in a viable way and provide the maximum number of socially monitored alarms to as many older persons as possible in 2012.

The temporary changes made under the Scheme will be monitored on an on-going basis and may be revised later in the year in light of the overall demand for funding relative to the budget allocation for 2012.

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