Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 6 Oct 1998

Vol. 494 No. 4

Written Answers. - Housing Aid for the Elderly.

Bernard Allen

Ceist:

367 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the plans, if any, he has to introduce measures in order that old age pensioners who have telephones installed for security purposes do not have to pay the £99 installation fee. [18626/98]

Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern)

The scheme of community support for older people was established by this Department in 1996 to address the security needs of vulnerable older people in the community. Under the scheme, grants are made available to voluntary organisations such as Muintir na Tíre, Community Alert, Neighbourhood Watch, which have undertaken to identify the older people in the community in need of the scheme's services. Under the scheme grants are available for: small-scale physical security equipment such as strengthening of doors and windows, window locks, door chains and locks and security lighting; and socially-monitored alarm systems. Funding is not available for conventional burglar alarms under this scheme.

Older people, aged 65 or over, who live alone or in households made up exclusively of older and-or other dependent vulnerable people and who are unable to install or purchase the equipment concerned themselves, can benefit from the scheme. However, as the Deputy is aware, the primary objective of this scheme is to address the security needs of vulnerable older people by the provision of funding specifically for security equipment and in this regard funding towards the cost of installing a telephone is not covered under the scheme. However, I am anxious to ensure that the scheme remains focused and provides assistance in the most appropriate way. In this regard, my Department has, in consultation with the Departments of Finance and Health and Children, commissioned an independent review of the scheme which will consider how the scheme is meeting its objectives and whether it is doing so in the most efficient and effective way possible. As the final report of the consultants will not be available until later this year it would not be appropriate to consider making changes to the scheme at this point.