John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 68 and 69 together.

The scheme of community support for older people was suspended on 7 April. This was done with a view to affording my Department the opportunity to review the scheme's operation and to consult with interested parties over the next few months to address a number of concerns.

It is essential that we recognise the home security concerns of our older citizens. While statistics will tell us that the incidence of crime affecting older people is low compared to other age groups, older people's perception of the risk of crime is high. It also may be useful to remind Deputies of the background to this scheme. It was introduced in 1996 arising from a special task force on security for the elderly following a spate of burglaries on the homes of older people. It was based on the concept of providing funds to voluntary and community organisations working with or providing support for vulnerable older people to provide a range of personal security devices. Since 1996, some €43.7 million has been paid out under the scheme.

My Department has operated the scheme since mid-2002. In excess of €20 million has been provided since then to community and voluntary organisations with an estimated 60,000 older people being direct beneficiaries — either by being supplied with a monitored alarm, sometimes referred to as the pendant alarm or panic button, or one of the other security items for their homes.

My Department has reviewed the scheme on a couple of occasions in recent years and, as a result, a number of innovations have been introduced. Arising from recommendations made in 2004 the grant is now fixed at €300 per installation for the monitored alarm and lower amounts for the other equipment available. This approach has helped to ensure that community groups get good value for money and that commercial suppliers are obliged to provide quality equipment at a reasonable price, given that these products vary little in their design or service.

Other changes introduced include increasing the maximum individual grant in respect of physical security equipment to €200 and the maximum individual grant in respect of security lighting to €200; from 2006, the introduction of a grant of €150 for interior emergency lighting for qualifying older people living on our offshore islands; providing grant support in respect of smoke alarms and emergency lighting; and providing funding for carbon monoxide detectors where they are supplied as part of other smoke detection devices.

In addition, the 2006 scheme saw the introduction for the first time of an administration subvention to participating groups. The amount of this subvention is based on the size of a group's previous year's grant, with a maximum of €600 and a minimum of €100 being made available. This subvention recognised the role of the community groups in the administration of this scheme and I think Deputies will agree we owe a great debt of gratitude for their work over the years.

The changes introduced in the past few years, however, have meant that the demand for grants has grown to unsustainable levels. From 2002 to 2006, average annual expenditure on the scheme was approximately €2.4 million. In 2007, expenditure went to €3.7 million and it increased further in 2008 when expenditure reached €4.3 million. Deputies will agree that these levels of increase are unsustainable. While the changes introduced to the scheme in recent years have provided for greater flexibility and access, I have concerns that it may no longer target genuine need among older people. The suspension of the scheme will allow an opportunity to examine these concerns and a range of other issues that also have been identified. I know there is broad agreement as to the value of the scheme but I honestly believe there is an urgent need to review it in order to ensure it operates effectively.

In the circumstances, last week the Minister, Deputy Ó Cuív, and I met representatives of Age Action Ireland, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Muintir na Tire, Irish Rural Link and the Senior Citizens' Parliament to discuss the suspension of the scheme and the concerns about how it currently operates. Arising from those discussions, we have agreed with these groups a process that will set the broad parameters for a review of the scheme and for the necessary consultation to be undertaken as part of it. I am hopeful the review process can begin in May and be completed by mid-September.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House

The bodies have agreed to participate in the review process and to work with my officials. They have also agreed to work together to give their general view about the scope of the review and how they see it developing. I assure Deputies that all applications received up to the suspension of the scheme will be processed and approved, as appropriate, in line with the current eligibility criteria. Funding will be made available to eligible groups in the coming weeks. More than €1 million worth of applications have been received in the first three months of this year and at the end of March, nearly €640,000 had been paid out to eligible applicants.

I am hopeful that with the co-operation of the national bodies referred to, the terms of reference for the review can be finalised fairly quickly. It is important to note, however, that the suspension of the scheme does not in any way affect those who have already received a monitored alarm device. I wish to reiterate my commitment to this scheme. It is my intention to relaunch it later in the year, once the review is completed.

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