Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 November 2013
111. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the senior alert scheme following the recent budget announcement that the telephone allowance will be discontinued from January 2014; and the provision that will be made to cater for areas where mobile coverage is limited or non-existent. [47251/13]
View answer122. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has secured additional funding for the seniors community alert scheme for 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47383/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 111 and 122 together.
The Seniors Alert Scheme provides grant assistance towards the purchase and installation of equipment to enable older persons, with limited means, to continue to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind. The Scheme is administered by local community and voluntary groups with the support of my Department.
To date my Department has only approved applications for personal monitored alarms connected to a landline. Personal monitored alarms are now available using mobile technology and my Department is currently examining these alternatives systems. It would be a matter for the sponsoring community group to satisfy itself that a system using mobile technology provides reliable coverage in its area. Mobile type devices currently on offer do not provide full mobile phone functionality and therefore are not a replacement for a telephone.
The funding allocated for the Seniors Alert Scheme in 2013 is €2.35 million, and this provision has been maintained in Budget 2014. That level of funding is sufficient to meet current demand levels for this important scheme.
