Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 362: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if a person (details supplied) will be assisted. [25835/08]

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department operates the Scheme of Community Support for Older People. Community and voluntary organisations administer the scheme locally with support and funding provided by my Department. This Scheme encourages and assists the community's support for older people by means of grants to improve the security of vulnerable older people in their own homes. The maximum individual grants provided under the scheme is €300 in respect of the once-off installation cost of socially monitored alarms; €200 in respect of physical security equipment; €200 in respect of security lighting; €50 in respect of smoke alarms; and €150 in respect of interior emergency lighting for qualifying older people living on our offshore islands.

To qualify for the Scheme a person must be aged 65 or over and have a genuine need for assistance. They can apply for assistance by contacting a community and voluntary group in their area and requesting that an application be made on their behalf to the Department. Should the individual referred to by the Deputy need assistance in contacting a local group, officials in my Department can be contacted at 071-9107819/071-9107821 and further information in respect of the Scheme is also available at my Department's website www.pobail.ie.