Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 78: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his proposals to introduce a subsidy in regard to the annual servicing charge for security pendant alarms for older persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36810/05]

Seán Ryan (Dublin North, Labour)
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Question 83: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if the €2.8 million provision for the scheme of community support for older persons in 2005 has been sufficient to meet the funding needs for equipment to improve the security of older persons in their homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36942/05]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 78 and 83 together.

The purpose of the scheme of community support for older people 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. The scheme is administered by local community and voluntary groups with the support of my Department.

The scheme provides maximum individual grants of: €300 in respect of the once-off installation cost of socially monitored alarms; €150 in respect of door locks, window locks and door chains; €150 in respect of security lighting; and €50 in respect of smoke alarms. I have no plans to further extend the scheme to introduce a subsidy in regard to the annual servicing charge for socially-monitored alarm systems.

The yearly allocation for the scheme of community support for older people is based on the demand received under the scheme in previous years. A figure of €2.8 million has been allocated to the scheme of community supports for older people in 2005. This constitutes a 17% increase on the 2004 scheme, which received an allocation of €2.4 million. I am satisfied that the 2005 allocation will meet the demand for equipment funded under the scheme.