Brian O'Shea
Ceist:188 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Waterford will receive a medical alert pendant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16991/99]
Vol. 507 No. 4
188 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Waterford will receive a medical alert pendant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16991/99]
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 such as St.
Vincent de Paul, Neighbourhood Watch and Community Alert who have undertaken to identify those elderly people in need of assistance under the scheme.
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, such as the "pendant" or "button" alarm system which is operated via the telephone and is worn around the wrist or neck.
To qualify for assistance under the scheme, older people, aged 65 or over, must: be living alone or be living in households made up exclusively of older people, or of older and other people who are dependent and vulnerable and be unable to install or purchase the security equipment or alarm system themselves.
In general, grants under the scheme cover from 50 per cent to 90 per cent of the 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.
Since its inception in 1996 a total of £12.6 million has been made available for this scheme and up to the end of 1998 some 56,000 people had been assisted by the scheme.