Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 365: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the grants for the installation of house alarms that are available for elderly people living alone; the amount of funding that is available; the qualifying criteria of any such scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12921/06]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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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 the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs on an annual basis.

To apply for assistance, individuals should contact a local voluntary and community group and request that they make an application on their behalf to the Department. A list of approved participating groups in 2004 is available on the Department's website at www.pobail.ie.

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 in 2004 I introduced a grant of €50 in respect of smoke alarms. Funding is not available for conventional intruder alarms under this scheme.

In response to suggestions from older people and their representatives, the 2005 scheme was announced earlier than in recent years. Advertisements were placed in the national and provincial newspapers in the week beginning 11 April. The closing date for applications under the scheme was 24 May 2005.