Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 340: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of older people who benefited from the grants scheme for security equipment and social monitored alarms in 2005; and the breakdown of the figures for socially monitored alarms, window locks, door locks and door chains designed to strengthen points of entry to the dwelling, security lighting and smoke alarms. [18031/06]

Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 341: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of additional older people who are expected to benefit from the increase in grant amounts for security equipment and social monitored alarms scheme. [18032/06]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 340 and 341 together.

Over 6,500 individuals have been approved for funding under the 2005 Scheme of Community Support for Older People. Of these, over 5,000 were approved for socially monitored alarms; almost 1,600 for equipment designed to strengthen points of entry to the dwelling; almost 3,000 for security lighting and in the region of 1,600 for smoke alarms. As can be seen from these figures, many individuals received grants for two or more of the security features provided for under this scheme.

Earlier this year my Department carried out an extensive review of the scheme, including a consultation process with a geographic spread of participating groups and organisations. As a result of this review, I have incorporated the following important changes to the scheme for 2006:

∙The 2006 scheme will be open for applications throughout the year;

∙The maximum individual grant in respect of physical security equipment is being increased to €200 from €150;

∙The maximum individual grant in respect of security lighting is being increased to €200 from €150;

∙A new grant of €150 in respect of interior emergency lighting has been introduced for qualifying older people living on our offshore islands;

∙An administration subvention will be made available to participating groups in 2006.

These changes are intended to make the scheme more accessible to applicant organisations and older people in their communities over the course of the year, and to facilitate participation by a wider range of groups. As already stated, over 6,500 individuals benefited under the 2005 scheme. It would not, however, be possible at this time to estimate the number of additional older people expected to benefit from the increases in grant amounts and, indeed, from the other changes to the 2006 scheme.