Written answers

Thursday, 28 April 2005

Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs

Security of the Elderly

5:00 pm

Photo of David StantonDavid Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 174: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of funding applications submitted for socially monitored alarms between the years 2000 and 2004 and to date in 2005 with regard to the community support for older people scheme; the number of these applications which were approved for funding in each of these years; the number of older persons who received socially monitored alarms under this scheme in each of the years; the amount expended by his Department on funding for socially monitored alarms under this scheme in each of the years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13833/05]

Photo of Noel AhernNoel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Responsibility for the scheme of community support for older people transferred from the then named Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs to the newly formed Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs in June 2002. The scheme was operated through the regional offices of the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs up to and including 2002.

The purpose of the scheme is to encourage and assist the community's support for older people by means of a community based grant scheme to improve the security of its older members. Funding under the scheme can be provided for door locks, door chains and window locks; security lighting; and smoke alarms and the once-off cost of installing socially monitored personal alarms.

Details in respect of the groups approved and amounts approved for security equipment — including socially monitored personal alarms — under the scheme for the years 2000, 2001 and 2002 are available in the Oireachtas Library. The details in respect of grants paid under the 2003 and 2004 schemes are available on my Department's website, www.pobail.ie.

In summary, the details are in the table.

Year Number of applicant groups Number of groups approved Amount (€ million)
2000 Not available 571 4.03
2001 Not available 461 2.68
2002 Not available 432 2.67
2003 461 391 2.86
2004 531 4502.65*
*Includes approximately €670,000 paid in 2005 in respect of applications received under the 2004 scheme.

I recently announced the 2005 scheme open for applications. The closing date for receipt of applications in the Department is 24 May 2005.

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