Vol. 499 No. 3
280 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the reason he has reduced grants from 90 per cent to 64 per cent under the community support for older people; if it is his intention to maintain this valuable scheme long-term as a necessary support for elderly people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2712/99]
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 and organisations who have undertaken to indentify those elderly people in need of assistance under the scheme.
In general, grants under the scheme cover from 50 per cent to 90 per cent once-off cost of the purchase and/or installation of the necessary security equipment. While the maximum grant available under this scheme is 90 per cent of the total cost, it is not possible to guarantee this level of funding in respect of all applications received under the scheme.
A sum of £2 million was initially allocated to the scheme in the 1998 Estimates. Having reviewed the level of demand under the scheme last year I sought and obtained, Government approval for the allocation of an additional £3 million to the scheme, bringing the total allocation in 1998 to £5 million. I am satisfied that this level of funding was sufficient to allow my Department to make a meaningful response to worthwhile applications and to assist a large number of people again last year.
It should be noted that since its inception in 1996 a total of £12 million has been made available for this scheme and up to the end of 1997 some 36,000 people had been assisted by the scheme. It is anticipated that in excess of a further 20,000 people have been assisted in 1998. This means that since I came into office I have spent £10 million on this scheme as opposed to £2 million spent by the previous Government.
I am anxious to ensure that this scheme addresses the security needs of the most vulnerable people and that it provides this 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. The final report from the consultants will be available shortly and the future operation of the scheme will be determined in the light of the outcome of this review.
