Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 13 Jun 2000

Vol. 521 No. 1

Written Answers. - Security of the Elderly.

Dan Neville

Ceist:

237 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will make the security scheme for the elderly, operated through his Department, available to elderly who live in areas where a community group is not available to operate the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16603/00]

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 provide funding for initiatives 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.

The task force on the security of the elderly established by my Department in 1996 recommended the involvement of voluntary organisations as a means of identifying those elderly people deemed to be at risk in their communities and of ensuring the greatest level of local involvement to respond to these individual and diverse needs.

The involvement of such organisations in identifying and addressing the security needs of older people in the community creates opportunities for groups to develop wider links with older people in their areas and has the potential to increase, in a very real sense, the support network available to vulnerable older people in the community while also allowing for a flexible response to individual needs. The knowledge of local conditions and people that local voluntary organisations possess has also allowed for a sensitivity of approach in administering the scheme.

I appreciate that individuals may not always be aware of which voluntary organisations in their area actively participate in the scheme. However, my Department, through its various offices throughout the country, assists such individuals by advising them of which groups at local level are participating in the scheme and by initiating contact with the relevant group where necessary. In addition, my Department aims to ensure that individuals are aware of the scheme by advertising it on a national basis and by disseminating information on the scheme through a range of voluntary organisations and through the community liaison section of the Garda Síochána. Disseminating information in this way also ensures that vulnerable older people in the community who may not be aware of the scheme's potential benefits can be targeted for assistance by voluntary organisations. To ensure maximum awareness of the scheme, my Department circulated a newsletter outlining details of all supports available to elderly people to some 330,000 pensioners last November.

If the Deputy requires information on which voluntary groups may be operating in a particular area, I would be happy to provide details in this regard.

Jim O'Keeffe

Ceist:

238 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the results of the independent review of the scheme of community support for older people; and if there are any plans to extend or amend the terms of the scheme. [16604/00]

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 provide funding for initiatives 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 I came to office in mid-1997, some 53,000 individuals have received assistance under the scheme. I am committed to ensuring that this scheme continues to address the security needs of the most vulnerable older people in our society and, accordingly, a sum of £5 million has been provided for the scheme in my Department's Estimates for 2000.

To ensure that the security needs of the most vulnerable older people were being met, my Department in consultation with the Departments of Finance and Health and Children, commissioned an independent review of the scheme in 1998 to consider how the scheme was meeting its objectives and whether it was doing so in the most efficient and effective way possible.

The review concluded that the security and social support of a large number of people had been greatly enhanced by the scheme. It also noted that, while the primary purpose of the scheme was to respond to the security threat to elderly people, it also had an important health-community care effect.

While the review indicated a general satisfaction with the scheme among participating community groups, a number of issues of concern were raised by the groups consulted. These included the need for improved publicity for the scheme, the need to ensure that grants are as close as possible to the 90% maximum grant available under the scheme, and for more clarity on how to select applicants on the basis of vulnerability.

I have actively sought to address the issues of concern identified by participating groups and have endeavoured where possible to provide maximum funding under the scheme. My Department also actively enhances the profile of the scheme and promotes its benefits by advertising it on a national basis and by disseminating information on the scheme through a range of voluntary organisations and through the community liaison section of the Garda Síochána. Disseminating information in this way also ensures that vulnerable older people in the community who may not be aware of the scheme's potential benefits can be targeted for assistance by voluntary organisations. In addition my Department, to ensure maximum awareness of the scheme, circulated a newsletter outlining details of all supports available to elderly people to some 330,000 pensioners last November.

Perhaps the single most important conclusion of the review was that the available resources should continue to be targeted at those elderly people deemed at risk or vulnerable and unable to meet the cost of the equipment themselves. In accordance with the recommendations of the review, it was decided to maintain the existing eligibility criteria for the scheme.

The review also identified a number of possible options with regard to the future management of the scheme, which included it continuing to be administered by my Department or being administered by other Departments-agencies. Having considered the experience of the scheme's operation since 1996 and the conclusions of the review that the scheme was, and continues to be, of significant benefit to many vulnerable older people, the Government decided to continue to operate the scheme under existing terms and there are no plans to amend or extend the scheme.

I have arranged to forward copies of the review to the Deputy and to the Oireachtas Library for reference.