Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Many volunteer groups, such as Pobal ar Aire in Cúl Aodha and Kilnamartyra and community alert schemes in areas such as Clondrohid use the senior alert scheme to support older people and vulnerable people in their communities. They have done great work in delivering peace of mind and practical support to people. There are areas where a phone signal is not available. There are homes that do not have a landline. Other people have broadband available to them. The Department is using some additional technologies and this is positive.

Is there a plan in place, though, to ensure that telephone blackspots, those places where the telephone will not be available, will also be able to avail of peace of mind and be safe places for people with these monitors? Is the Minister of State considering the option of rolling this out so people can freely go about their homes and outside as well and get the maximum benefit of technology to deliver peace of mind and a sense of safety in those blackspots where the telephone signal is not so strong?

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