Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

There is widespread anger at the decision to suspend funding for the scheme of community support for older people. This scheme has been used successfully to provide enhanced security and peace of mind for older people in their homes. It is especially important for older people living alone in rural Ireland but it is by no means confined to rural areas.

Like many Deputies I have received representations from within my constituency and outside it. As one correspondent states, the decision will "impact greatly on the lives of older and vulnerable people". Attacks on older people in their homes, ranging from intrusion to assault, not only cause terror to the victims but spread fear across the older population throughout the country. Even a break-in where nothing is taken and where the older person does not encounter the intruder, is extremely traumatic. The older person's feeling of security in his or her own home has been shattered, in many cases never to be restored again.

This scheme provided practical support with the installation of security alarms, door and window locks, security lighting and smoke alarms. Community alert groups carried out much of this work, with a network that reached across the State. Of course, no devices fitted in a home can substitute for neighbours, friends and care workers regularly calling and ensuring that the older person has the social support he or she needs. However, with this cut the Government appears to be saying that the security of older people is not a priority given that the cut will produce very paltry so-called savings.

This cut cannot be seen in isolation. It comes on top of the cut in home help hours and the totally inadequate provision of health and personal social services to older people in the community. The Government claims to be encouraging older people to remain in their homes, as most of them earnestly wish to do, but it is cutting the essential supports to enable them to do so. Sadly, many more will be driven into institutional care at far greater cost to the State. I join my colleagues in making a cross-party appeal to the Minister to restore this scheme at the earliest opportunity.

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