Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)

I represent a rural constituency where many people live in isolated areas and this scheme allowed them to have the peace of mind and feeling of security brought about by having a monitored alarm system. Their relatives were also reassured by the scheme. I do not understand, therefore, why the scheme is being suspended. I hope the Minister will be true to his word when he says it will be reinstated in September.

This signifies a further erosion of services, particularly for older people. Tonight we debated the loss of the Christmas bonus for pensioners and we all remember the fiasco of the medical cards for the over 70s. Now many older people who live independently in isolated areas no longer feel safe as a result of the loss of this scheme.

It also gives a certain degree of comfort to people who might embark on robberies in rural areas. People are now storing money at home and older people have always had a tendency to do so. The reduction in home help hours means there are fewer callers to people in rural areas, so the lack of monitored alarms will have an effect. In the Fermoy area of my constituency of Cork East, 51 monitored alarms were distributed since January. A further 28 older people were on the waiting list. They will now have to pay approximately €300 from their pension to get an alarm.

According to Irish Rural Link, Muintir na Tire and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the scheme costs approximately €3 million but €2.4 million of that is recouped through VAT paid to the Exchequer. It is a worthwhile scheme and I ask the Minister to reinstate it.

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