Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 223: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will remove the obligation for a means test in view of the fact that it discourages elderly persons from applying for senior alert scheme alarms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38739/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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My Department manages the Seniors Alert Scheme which encourages and assists the community's support for older people by means of a community-based grant scheme to improve the security of people over 65 years of age. The Scheme is administered by local community and voluntary groups with the support of my Department.

The Scheme is not means-tested. However Community and Voluntary groups are asked to determine whether persons who apply for the grant have the means to purchase the equipment without grant support. This is established before an application for the grant is made so as to ensure that the most vulnerable people that the Scheme wishes to facilitate are in a position to receive the grant.