Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government is responsible for the seniors alert scheme which provides grant support for the supply of equipment to enable older people without sufficient means to continue to live securely in their homes. The grant assistance is made available to community and voluntary groups registered with the Department. I understand organisations dealing with older people deal with local area bases in respect of community schemes and the Department. Significant numbers were dealt with last year. Another aspect - this is a positive development - is that technology is changing and improving and where formerly the alerts were only linkable with land lines, they are now being linked with mobile phones. Mobile phone coverage in many parts of the country is very good and more individuals, including older people, now use and carry their mobile phone.

On the living alone allowance, older people living on their own receive an allowance of €7.70 per week from the Department in recognition of the extra cost involved.