Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 334: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs when grant approval under the community support for older people will be approved for a group (details supplied) in County Waterford. [16338/09]

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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An incomplete application was received from the group referred to by the Deputy in mid 2008. Documentation in respect of the expenditure of the previous grant awarded to this group in 2006 was not supplied with the new application, as required under the criteria for the Scheme.

Officials in my Department have been in contact with this group on several occasions requesting this further information. To date, the required information has not been received. A further reminder letter issued recently and upon receipt of the necessary documentation, the application will be processed and funding will be provided, in accordance with the payment guidelines attaching to the Scheme.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 336: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of applications received for funding for the community support for older people scheme in County Louth for each year since 2005 to date in 2009; the number of applications received by location and by security item; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16550/09]

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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The purpose of the Scheme of Community Support for Older People, which was suspended on 7th April last, was to encourage and assist the community's support for older people by means of a community based grant scheme to improve the security of its older members. Funding under the Scheme was provided for door-locks, door-chains and window locks; for security lighting; for smoke alarms and for the once-off cost of installing socially monitored personal alarms.

It is my intention to review the Scheme over the next few months and re-launch it later in the year. In this context, I recently met with representatives of organisations involved with issues affecting older people and I have agreed with them a process that will set the broad parameters for the review and for the necessary consultation to be undertaken as part of it. I am hopeful that the review process can begin in May and be completed by mid September.

All applications received up to the suspension of the Scheme will be processed and approved, as appropriate, in line with the current eligibility criteria. Details of applications received and approved under the Scheme in County Louth for each year since 2005 to date are set out below: