Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 14 Oct 1998

Vol. 495 No. 2

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

Ulick Burke

Ceist:

166 Mr. U. Burke asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs his intentions and commitments in relation to the security systems for the elderly scheme; the reason it has been suspended and community groups have been refused support and left waiting; if it is to be removed, reduced or replaced; if his attention has been drawn to the concern and anxiety caused in rural communities and areas of elderly people living alone who have sought help for the provision of security systems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19761/98]

Seymour Crawford

Ceist:

171 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the serious delay in the financing of the grants for the installation of security systems for the elderly through the community alert groups; when the finance will be made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19813/98]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 166 and 171 together.

My Department has, since 1996, operated the scheme of community support for older people, the purpose of which is to provide funding for initiatives to improve the security and social support of vulnerable older people. This funding is provided by way of grant to voluntary groups who have undertaken to identify those elderly people in need of assistance under the scheme.

A sum of £2 million was made available to the scheme in 1996, and some 15,000 individuals were assisted that year. In 1997 an initial allocation of £2 million was again made to the scheme.

I sought and received approval from Government to allocate an additional £3 million to the scheme, thus allowing the Department to assist some 21,000 individuals in 1997.

A sum of £2 million was again allocated to the scheme in the 1998 Estimates. The maximum grant available under this scheme is 90 per cent of the cost and grants are provided only towards the once-off cost of the purchase and/or installation of the necessary equipment. The actual amount of the grant varies in the light of individual circumstances and needs and the overall demands which must be met.

The objective of the scheme is to address the security needs of vulnerable older people and a significant number of people have benefited in this regard. I am anxious to ensure that the scheme has sufficient resources allocated to it to ensure that a meaningful response can be made to the large number of applications received this year, while at the same time ensuring that the scheme remains focused and provides this assistance in the most efficient and effective way possible. There has again been a very high level of demand in relation to the scheme this year.

I have reviewed the position and, as already announced, I have obtained Government approval for the allocation of an additional £3 million to the scheme in 1998. I envisage that the 1998 grants will be made, within the revised allocation, within the next few weeks. The additional allocation brings the amount made available over the past two years to £10 million. This represents a significant increase in the level of support for the scheme and will provide the necessary resources to meet the volume of worthwhile applications received.

There is a need to ensure that the scheme remains focused and provides assistance in the most efficient and effective way possible. 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. This final report from the consultants will be available later this year.