Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 21 Oct 1998

Vol. 495 No. 5

Written Answers. - Security of the Elderly.

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

It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 146 and 147 together.

As the Deputy is aware 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.

The maximum grant available under the 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.

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. However, on coming into office, in fulfilment of our commitment to look after vulnerable people in our community, I sought and received approval from Government to allocate an additional £3 million to the scheme. Approximately 860 applications were received under the 1997 scheme. A total of 839 grants amounting to £4,824,159 were paid out under the 1997 scheme providing assistance to over 21,000 people.

A sum of £2 million was again allocated to the scheme in the 1998 Estimates. As I have already announced, I have yet again, for the second year in a row, obtained Government approval for the allocation of an additional £3 million to the scheme in 1998 bringing the total allocation to £10 million for the last two years.

A total sum of £5 million has therefore been allocated to the scheme for 1998 and a total of 940 applications have been received. These applications are currently being considered in the regional offices of my Department. My Department expects to be in a position soon to advise groups of the decision regarding their applications.

The additional allocations over the last two years since this Government came into office represent a significant increase in the level of support for this scheme and will provide the necessary resources to meet the volume of worthwhile applications received.