Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 402: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he continues to provide funding to support the provision of panic alarms for the elderly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42125/08]

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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The Scheme of Community Support for Older People, operated by my Department, provides funding to local community and voluntary groups who identify vulnerable older people over the age of 65 years in their communities and arrange for the installation of socially-monitored alarms and other items of physical security equipment. Any local voluntary or community-based organisation, especially those working with or providing support for older people, can apply to my Department for funding under the Scheme and applications are accepted throughout the year. The value of grants paid out in the past three years is set out in the table.

Total expenditure on the Scheme in 2008 is likely to exceed €3.7 million. I anticipate funding of the order of €3.5m in 2009. Full details of the Schemes is available on my Department's website (www.pobail.ie).