Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 212: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of applications received by his Department for houses for the provision of security measures by senior citizens in each of the past three years; if the number of groups or associations who provide the service is on the increase or if his Department has sought to increase or reassess the workings of such groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12438/06]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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The scheme of community support for older people encourages and assists 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 open to people aged 65 and over who have a genuine need for assistance under this scheme and is administered by local community and voluntary groups with the support of my Department.

Over the past three years the following numbers of local community and voluntary groups submitted applications under the scheme:

Funding provided by my Department under the scheme in this period was as follows:

Expenditure over the period has remained consistent reflecting the level of demand on the ground. The funding allocated for this scheme in 2006 is €3 million.

My Department monitors the operation of this scheme on an ongoing basis and is currently involved in a comprehensive review prior to advertising the 2006 scheme.