Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 171: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if formal communications have been sent to all community alert groups outlining the reason he is not taking more applications under the supports for older people scheme; if so, the groups which have been contacted and when; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17130/09]

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 172: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the provisions put in place for people involved with the community alert groups, who may lose their positions as a result of the recent announcement that no more applications will be accepted under the supports for older people scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17131/09]

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 171 and 172 together.

My Department wrote to over 1,300 community and voluntary groups, including community alert groups, that have received funds from the Scheme of Community Support for Older People in recent years to advise them of the suspension of funding. The letter was issued on 7th April 2009. The letter contained contact details for members of staff in my Department to enable direct enquiries to be made.

The Deputy may wish to note that the Scheme is delivered by volunteers working with older people in their communities and does not provide funds for the engagement of staff. I am aware that the suspension of the Scheme may reduce the volume of work for some operations in the installation of alarms and security devices. However, the suspension does not affect arrangements already in place for the monitoring of alarms systems funded by the Scheme.

Last week, I met with representatives of Age Action Ireland, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Muintir na Tíre, Irish Rural Link and the Senior Citizen Parliament to discuss the suspension of the scheme and the concerns about how it currently operates. Arising from these discussions, I have agreed with these organisations a process that will set the broad parameters for a review of the scheme to be undertaken by my Department and for the necessary consultation to be undertaken as part of the review process. I am hopeful that the review process can begin in May and be completed by mid-September.