Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 July 2012
457 Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide details of funding opportunities provided by his Department and statutory agencies under the aegis of his Department to community and voluntary sector organisations working with older persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34682/12]
View answerMy Department is responsible for a range of programmes and initiatives to support communities, including older people. In particular it manages the Seniors Alert Scheme which 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.
My Department also implements a Scheme to Support National Organisations in the Community and Voluntary Sector. This Scheme provides multi-annual funding to national organisations towards core costs associated with the provision of services and it includes a number of organisations dealing with the elderly, such as Active Retired Network Ireland and Age Action Ireland. The Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP) aims to tackle poverty and social exclusion through partnership and constructive engagement between Government/agencies and people in disadvantaged communities. Older people are amongst the groups targeted for support under the LCDP.
Under the Social Housing Leasing Initiative, approved housing bodies, including those working with older people, can submit proposals to my Department for accommodation costs for housing units where the proposed tenants have been deemed by the local authority as being in need of housing support. To date, a number of voluntary bodies have availed of this initiative and have provided accommodation for older persons.
Under the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS), funding of up to 100% of the approved cost is provided to approved housing bodies for the provision of accommodation to meet the needs of persons with specific categories of housing need, including older people. The administration of the scheme is the responsibility of the relevant housing authority.
