John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)

I thank Senator Fitzgerald for raising this matter on the Adjournment. I am pleased to have the opportunity to address this issue and will attempt to respond to the points raised as directly as possible. My Department has operated the scheme of community support for older people since it was established in mid-2002. It was originally devised in 1996, based on the simple concept of helping people active in their communities to maintain contact with older people in their neighbourhood. Grants are not paid to individuals but to community organisations working with older people. This approach has helped over the years to ensure broader community support for older people and has allowed volunteers and staff of community organisations to maintain contact with older people.

Since my Department took over the scheme, in excess of €22 million has been awarded to community and voluntary organisations. Our estimates suggest that 60,000 older people have been direct beneficiaries through the provision of a monitored alarm — sometimes referred to as a pendant alarm or panic button — or one of the other covered security items for their homes. My Department reviewed the scheme in 2004 and made several innovations in response to concerns raised at that time. The scheme was developed to allow for the installation of window locks, door locks and chains and to cover the cost of providing sensor exterior lighting. Further innovations have been introduced since then, including a grant in respect of smoke alarms. Funding is now provided for carbon monoxide detectors where they are supplied as part of other smoke detection devices.

One of the key recommendations of the 2004 review was that a standard individual grant should be paid. This 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 community groups obtain good value for money and that commercial suppliers are obliged to provide quality equipment at a reasonable price given these products vary little in their design or service.

I am satisfied the current level of grant ensures recipients of the alarm are not required to make any contribution to the cost of the supply or installation of the equipment. The only costs falling to the older person or their family members are the annual monitoring costs. I understand these costs vary from as low as €50 to a high of more than €100. This is an area in which I would like to see greater competition. People must be encouraged to shop around for the best value.

The changes introduced in 2004 have meant that the demand for grants has grown to unsustainable levels. From 2002 to 2006, the average annual expenditure on the scheme was some €2.4 million. The average expenditure for 2007 and 2008 reached more than €4 million, an increase of two thirds. I am sure Members will agree that this could not be sustained, even in better times. Moreover, I am concerned that the changes introduced to the scheme in recent years mean it is no longer targeting genuine need among older people.

As a result, the scheme was suspended in early April. This was done with a view to affording my Department the opportunity to review its operation in the coming months and relaunch it later in the year with tighter terms and conditions. Earlier this week, the Minister, Deputy Ó Cuív and I met representatives of Age Action Ireland, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Muintir na Tíre, Irish Rural Link and the Senior Citizens Parliament to discuss the suspension of the scheme and their concerns about how it currently operates. Arising from those discussions, we have agreed 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 hope the review process will begin in May and be completed by mid-September. These bodies have also agreed to participate in the review process and to work with my officials in addressing their concerns regarding the operation of the scheme.

I assure Senator Fitzgerald 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. When it was first established, the scheme had a once-a-year application system, but this was reviewed some years ago. The original complaint was that a person who missed the application deadline was obliged to wait 12 months before applying. The scheme is now open for application on a continuous basis. I acknowledge that we are not accepting applications in the coming period but I emphasise that towards the end of 2008, we cleared virtually all applications on hand. That is why the expenditure for last year was some €4.3 million. We will not accept new applications during the period of the review but it would be disingenuous and unfair to suggest there is a substantial backlog of applications. The applications received prior to the suspension will be dealt with in full. In addition, it is important to note the suspension of the scheme in no way affects those who have already received a monitored alarm device.

I reiterate my commitment to this scheme and the security it has offered to the many older people using the alarms. I hope to relaunch it in September once the review is completed.