Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 June 2018
15. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the financial allocations in 2016 and 2017 and to date in 2018 for the seniors alert scheme; the take-up to date of the scheme in County Limerick since 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25828/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe allocation for the Seniors Alert Scheme in 2016 was €2.3m of which €1.8m was spent. Following a review, I launched a new scheme which took effect on 1 November 2017. A media and information campaign was organised to support the launch.
The key features of the new scheme include:
- free monitoring of the alarm service for the 1st year;
- a person no longer has to be living alone to qualify;
- a self-declaration of limited means for eligibility; and
- an increase in administrative payments to Community Groups involved in rolling out the scheme.
I am pleased to say that since the launch of the new scheme, the demand has been unprecedented. During 2017, spend on the Scheme amounted to €2.7m, with over 12,700 applications approved and more than 10,000 installations completed. To the end of May 2018, over 9,200 applications were approved, with almost 10,000 installations completed.
Since the Seniors Alert Scheme commenced in September 2015, 1,648 participants have been approved for the Scheme in County Limerick.
My officials are carefully monitoring the scheme to ensure that current levels of demand can continue to be met from within the resources available to my Department.
