Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 8 Feb 2000

Vol. 513 No. 6

Written Answers. - Security of the Elderly.

Michael Creed

Ceist:

350 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the amount of funding available in 2000 for community alert groups towards the cost of providing burglar alarms for the eldery; the eligibility criteria; and the way in which this funding will be allocated. [3048/00]

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

My Department has, since 1996, operated the scheme of community support for older people, the purpose of which is to improve the security and social support of vulnerable older people. This funding is provided by way of grant aid to voluntary groups and organisations who have undertaken to identify those elderly people in need of assistance under the scheme. Since this Government came into office a sum of £15 million has been provided for this scheme.

A sum of £5 million has been allocated to the scheme this year. 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.

Priority in allocating the available funds will be given to the most vulnerable older people. The actual amount of the grant will vary in the light of individual circumstances and needs and the overall demands which must be met.

Under the scheme once-off grants can be made towards the cost of: 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 panic button pendant which is worn around the neck or wrist and operated via the telephone.

Funding is not available under the scheme for conventional intruder-burglar alarms.

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.

I propose to have advertised the scheme in both the national and provincial press by mid-March, at which time any voluntary or community-based organisation working with or providing support for vulnerable older people may submit applications for funding.