Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 428: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the mechanism available to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare to obtain a panic alarm through the social welfare individual or community grant system; if such grants are available to senior citizens by any mechanism within his Department; if so the mechanism a person must use to obtain such a grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5958/08]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Socially monitored personal alarm systems are available as part of my Department's 'Scheme of Community Support for Older People'. The Scheme is open to people aged 65 and over who have a genuine need for assistance and is administered by local community and voluntary organisations throughout the country with support provided by my Department.

The funding available under the Scheme (maximum amounts) is as follows:

€300 in respect of the once-off cost of installing a socially-monitored alarm system;

€200 in respect of physical security equipment;

€200 in respect of security lighting;

€50 in respect of smoke alarms;

€150 in respect of interior emergency lighting for qualifying older people on our offshore islands.

Applications under the Scheme are accepted throughout the year and can be made through a local community or voluntary group. Information on relevant groups in Co. Kildare is available from my Department at the following telephone numbers 071 9186761/62/63. Alternatively, a list of Groups approved under the Scheme in recent years is available on my Department's website: www.pobail.ie.