Security of the Elderly

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 November 2014

Tuesday, 11 November 2014

Questions (541)

Michael Creed

Question:

541. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the proposal by his Department to involve Pobal in the operation of the senior alert scheme; the consultations that have taken place with local community and voluntary groups involved in the care of the elderly regarding this change of practice; the way this new approach will enable local voluntary groups to ensure more regular engagement with the elderly; the implications for the existing approximately 150,000 social alarms in operation and the responsibility for maintenance of these items; if his attention has been drawn to the significantly higher monitoring charges levied in other neighbouring jurisdictions and the consequences of a successful tender exiting the Irish market; if, in view of all of these issues, he will engage in the process of extensive consultation with the voluntary groups involved before Pobal is enabled to proceed with these significant changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43279/14]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

My Department manages the Seniors Alert Scheme which encourages community support for vulnerable older people in our communities by providing grant assistance towards the purchase and installation of personal monitored alarms to enable older persons, of 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. The maximum grant per beneficiary for equipment is as follows:

- Monitored personal alarms (with pendant) - €250

- Additional pendant/Re-installation - €50.

The annual monitoring costs (generally between €60-€80 per annum) are borne by the beneficiary.

My Department undertook to consider new approaches to the Seniors Alert Scheme in 2014 and from this it was recommended that the scheme be managed by Pobal with effect from 1 January 2015, given that organisation's significant experience delivering programmes on behalf of Government.

Pobal will provide management and administrative services for the Seniors Alert Scheme. This will include a national tender for the supply and installation of personal monitored alarms, which was publicly advertised on eTenders on 20 October 2014. A panel of regional suppliers will be contracted to provide the equipment within specific regional areas.

Monitoring has always been the responsibility of the beneficiary and this is not changing. There are no implications for existing installations in respect of the Pobal tender competition, however, under the new arrangements, Pobal are also providing a facility for beneficiaries to choose from a panel of monitoring companies or to continue with their current monitoring company. In this regard Pobal will also set up a panel of pre-qualified telecare service providers, who provide monitoring services and this was publicly advertised on eTenders on 6 November 2014.

This new approach will reduce the administrative burden for the many hundreds of community and voluntary groups registered under the Scheme and it will enable the groups to concentrate on the main purpose of the Scheme, namely to interact with the elderly in the local community.

Question No. 542 answered with Question No. 536.