Michael Finucane (Fine Gael)

The easiest way to table this issue is to read from a letter that describes a situation very eloquently:

I am a voluntary worker for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. I am writing regarding the scheme of community support for older people first introduced in 1997-98, now being administered by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. I am very frustrated with the way this scheme is being administered. First, the applications this year had to be received by 5 p.m. on 24 March. So far, no application for socially monitored personal alarms sent by me through our regional office in Limerick has received any funding or any explanation as to when funding will be allocated.

Second, I am receiving applications practically every week for these alarms from elderly people who have lost their partners, brothers or sisters and are now living on their own, mostly, may I add, in rural areas. I have to tell you that the scheme will not be operational until 2006 while applications will be submitted by the end of May. They may possibly be eligible for a personal alarm by October-November, which means a waiting period of 12 months. Surely this is not a scheme to benefit the elderly, who are advised to live in their own homes and not be a burden on the State by being cared for in nursing homes or hospitals.

Third, when the scheme was first introduced, the grant for same was 90% of the cost. Since being administered by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, the grant has been reduced to €300, which means that a pensioner is expected to pay €165, whereas with a 90% grant, all a person had to pay was approximately €50. Surely this is a sad reflection on how the Government is treating its senior citizens. I might add that the need for these personal alarms is greater each day. Old age pensioners cannot afford €165 for these alarms, as they find it very difficult to live on their small pensions considering the cost of living increases in fuel, ESB, etc. each month.

Finally, I am requesting you to have something positive done at once to eradicate this total disregard for our elderly, to reinstate the grant to 90% and make provision for an emergency fund to be made available for alarms to be fitted when the urgent need arises.

Even were I to prepare a script, I could not articulate the matter better than this person, who is genuinely concerned about the issue. From time to time and in my capacity as a public representative for the area, I refer people for consideration for these security alarms, which are extremely important to elderly people living on their own. A situation I have seen evolving over the past ten years is that of a number of break-ins in rural locations. It is a sad reflection on our times that this is happening but these people rely on security pendants or monitors. People who voluntarily provide this service are expecting a more professional approach from the Minister of State's Department.

Regarding dormant accounts funding, and the Minister of State may correct me, the funding is within his Department. Therefore, it appears there is funding to examine this issue. The main two components would be to return to the 90% of cost grant and that, for a person who applies in October or November, it will not be November of next year before they get an alarm. The Department must be able to respond on a more urgent basis if a case warrants it.