Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

The community support scheme is for community and voluntary groups to help elderly people with the provision of alarm systems, locks and other security devices to make their homes safer. The scheme was closed after last year's budget and we were told it was under review. The scheme was opened again on 1 October and I made inquiries on behalf of people last week only to be told it was closed again on 21 October. The scheme was only open for three weeks. We had statements from Fianna Fáil Deputies and others about the reopening of the scheme but now we find it has closed after only three weeks. Are the words from the Government side about the protection of the elderly in their own homes merely lip service?