Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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29. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of persons who signed up for the seniors alert scheme in counties Sligo and Leitrim in 2017; and his plans for the scheme in 2018. [18946/18]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The number of approved participants in the seniors alert scheme in 2017 in the areas in question were 276 in Sligo and 182 in Leitrim. Following the launch of a new scheme which took effect on 1 November 2017, my Department conducted a very successful nationwide public awareness campaign aimed at older people, their extended families and friends who may not have been aware of the scheme. The key features of the new scheme include a self-declaration of limited means for eligibility, a person no longer having to live alone to qualify, free monitoring of the alarm service for the first year, and an increase in administrative payments to community groups involved in rolling out the scheme.

I am pleased to say that since the launch of the new scheme, the demand has been unprecedented. Spend in 2017 amounted to almost €2.7 million, compared with €1.8 million spent in 2016. During 2017, in excess of 12,700 applications were approved and more than 10,000 installations were completed. In the first three months of 2018, in excess of 6,000 applications were approved. I encourage anyone who is interested in the seniors alert scheme to contact Pobal which operates the scheme on my Department’s behalf.

Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister for the reply. Awareness, through Pobal and other agencies involved in promoting the seniors alert scheme, is most important. I have seen it at first hand. Almost 500 people have participated in it in my constituency in Sligo and Leitrim in the past year, and I am sure many others would do so if people were aware that they do not need to live alone for this alert system to be put in place.

We see vandalism and robberies in the countryside and people suffer ill health. I have seen many people whose lives have been saved as a result of this system. It is vital that we encourage Pobal to advertise this service. Will the Minister say if there has been an advertising campaign to raise awareness? Many people are working in this area in their communities but there are many others who are not aware of it.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I took this scheme on board last year because, as the Deputy notes, we had many problems in the countryside, especially with criminal gangs who were targeting elderly people. People must be safe in their homes.

The initial take-up was not large. In 2015, 1,321 took up the scheme. In 2016, it was 7,301 and, because of the Department's campaign which targeted local radio and newspapers and informed every Deputy in the House, 12,609 people took up the scheme last year. As of the end of March, 6,109 people have signed up this year. The campaign worked very well. I want to see people being able to stay in their homes and live there without being frightened. This is a good scheme, and if anyone knows anybody who wants to take it up, they should contact Pobal or the community groups which are dealing with it. The scheme has worked well and I may have to find extra funding for it this year, which shows how well it worked.

Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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There is no better man than the Minister to get additional money. It is crucial if there is extra demand for the scheme and I am sure that there will be. The Minister is correct. There are many agencies involved. An awareness campaign helps. I am sure every Deputy here will have seen how concerned people are in their homes in recent years, and how they are live prisoners in their homes. If they have this resource, they have contact with the outside world when they lock their doors at night.

12 o’clock

The campaign the Minister has launched is very innovative. It is vitally important that we continue it this year and in years to come so that everybody can avail of this facility.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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We made a number of changes to the scheme last year and we made it easier for people. They do not have to pay for the first year of monitoring because the Department pays for it. The scheme has been very successful and I am delighted that so many people have availed of it. I compliment all the community groups, particularly Pobal, on the public shows they held around the country which led to the massive take-up. The most important thing is that elderly people feel safe in their homes. It has worked so well that we are going to have to find further funding for it this year.