Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 340: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if there are grants or funding available for pensioners to install security lights in their gardens and homes in order to improve their safety from anti-social activities; and if he will work with other Departments on this matter. [23370/06]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department operates the Scheme of Community Support for Older People, which aims to encourage and assist the community's support for older people by means of a community based grant scheme to improve the security of older people in their own homes.

The Scheme is administered by local community and voluntary groups with the support of my Department and is open to people aged 65 and over who have a genuine need for assistance.

The Scheme provides funding towards the cost of installing external security lighting (front and back), socially monitored alarm systems, door locks, window locks, doors chains and smoke alarms, as well as interior emergency lighting for qualifying older people living on our offshore islands.

The maximum individual grants provided under the Scheme are as follows: €200 in respect of security lighting; €300 in respect of the once-off installation cost of socially monitored alarms; €200 in respect of physical security equipment; €50 in respect of smoke alarms; and €150 in respect of interior emergency lighting for qualifying older people living on our offshore islands.