Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 January 2015
565. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if funding will be maintained for the senior alerts scheme; when the scheme will be extended to include specialist alarms for the hearing impaired; when such devices will be made available to local community and voluntary groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2721/15]
View answerMy 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 funding allocated for the Seniors Alert Scheme in 2014 was €2.35m and this allocation has been maintained for 2015.
My Department undertook to consider new approaches to the Seniors Alert Scheme in 2014 and arising from this, it was decided that the scheme would be managed by Pobal, who deliver many programmes on behalf of Government.
Pobal issued an invitation to tender for the supply and installation of personal monitored alarms under the scheme on 20 October 2014. The tender included a requirement for suppliers to set out their value added services, which may include hearing impaired alerts. The tender process, which is being led by Pobal, is almost complete and following completion of the process a panel of regional suppliers will be contracted to provide the required equipment within specific regional areas.
