Frances Fitzgerald (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I am grateful for the opportunity to raise the need for the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs to outline the implications of the recent cutbacks in the community support for older people scheme and his plans for the future of the scheme. I understand there has been a meeting with a number of the national organisations who have been concerned about this issue in recent days. Perhaps the Minister could update Members on the outcome of that meeting and whether he has changed the decision to suspend the scheme. This is an urgent matter which affects the elderly.

We have seen recently harsh cutbacks and reductions in public services and the impact of this on front-line services. In the medical card debacle, the psychological security of the elderly was taken away when the automatic right to a medical card for those over 70 was removed. This psychological aspect has had a damaging effect. The suspension of the community support scheme for older people represents another cutback for this age group.

I have seen a letter dated 7 April from a principal officer in the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht which states:

As a result, the funding available for a range of activities supported by this Department has had to be curtailed to meet the Government's objectives in regard to finance. These actions affect the community scheme for older people and result in the suspension of the scheme from today.

This suggests the scheme is no longer in operation. There are many people who want to access this service. Hospital social workers are trying to obtain security pendants for elderly people so that they can leave their long-stay beds and return home. People who have suffered a stroke, especially those who live alone, need the security of this alarm system to return home. In Clondalkin, in the Minister of State's constituency, from where some aspects of the Dublin scheme are run, people are on waiting lists to access these services.

The scheme was introduced in 2002 to provide funds to local community and voluntary organisations to install personal monitored alarms and other items of home security such as door and window locks to enable older people to live independently. It was a relatively small initiative but very important in terms of the security of those who benefited from it. It is difficult for many older people to access the funding for this type of security from their own resources. Some 10,000 people have availed of the scheme since its inception. This year alone, more than 1,850 have benefited from the scheme. I pay tribute to the many community and voluntary groups which facilitate older people in accessing the scheme, administer funding and ensure people feel safe in their own homes while preserving their independence.

I acknowledge we are in a time of financial difficulty. However, will the Minister of State outline the logic behind the decision to suspend this scheme? Has he considered the adverse impact on individuals who will no longer be able to live in security in their own homes? How much will be saved by the suspension of the scheme? Must it be suspended in full? If savings must be made under the scheme, if access is to be limited or if the Government has any concerns about its management, will the Minister of State clarify those issues? The suspension of the scheme represents another attack on the elderly. Surely any savings will be cancelled out if people are obliged to avail of long-term residential care because they are unable to return home?

I look forward to the Minister of State's explanation why this decision was taken and his plans for the future in regard to the scheme. Is it the intention to reopen the scheme? What are people expected to do in the meantime?