Written answers

Wednesday, 18 April 2012

Department of Environment, Community and Local Government

Grant Payments

10:00 pm

Photo of Aengus Ó SnodaighAengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 899: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that no funding has been given by him to Dublin City Council for maintenance and adaption grants for homes, that a person (details supplied) in Dublin 10 who suffers from a spinal cord injury and is severely restricted as a result, cannot have their home adapted by Dublin City Council; and the action he will take to alleviate their problem. [19027/12]

Photo of Jan O'SullivanJan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I recently announced details of the 2012 housing capital allocations to local authorities, totalling some €251.5 million. In excess of €62 million has been made available for the various housing programmes in the Dublin City Council area. Of this, €660,000 has been allocated for necessary adaptations and extensions to meet the needs of tenants of local authority houses. The administration of this funding and the selection of properties for upgrading is entirely a matter for Dublin City Council.

Photo of Patrick NultyPatrick Nulty (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 900: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will confirm that he has cut the senior alert scheme grants for security lights, smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors; if he will confirm that the cutbacks also stated that groups will have a €30,000 grant ceiling under the scheme; if he will confirm that community groups were only informed of the cutback last Tuesday 27 and Wednesday 28 March that these cutbacks would come into effect from Friday 30 March, giving only three days notice; if he will urgently review this decision with a view to reversing these cutbacks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19057/12]

Photo of Phil HoganPhil 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.

In 2011, grant support was available towards the purchase and installation of personal monitored alert systems (pendant alarms) and other items to improve the safety and security of the home (including monitored smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, internal emergency lighting and external security lighting).

Due to unprecedented demand for grant assistance under the Seniors Alert Scheme in 2011, the budget allocation of €2.35m was expended by the end of November 2011; there were a significant number of grant applications received in December 2011 that the Seniors Alert Unit was unable to grant-aid until the receipt of the budget allocation for 2012.

A significant portion of the 2012 budget allocation (€2.35m) was spent early in 2012 as a result of this unprecedented demand. The Seniors Alert Unit is also continually registering Community and Voluntary groups who wish to administer the Scheme and this will further increase the demand for funding in 2012.

As a result, my Department examined the operation of the scheme with the aim of ensuring its sustainability and an equitable distribution of funding country-wide. The following temporary changes were notified to groups on 26 March 2012, and took effect from 30 March 2012:

· Funding will only be available for the purchase & installation of socially monitored alarms at a maximum of €250 per alarm (Maximum funding of €50 is also available for additional pendants & reinstallations).

· Grants to Community and Voluntary groups will be capped at €30,000 per annum.

The aim of the Seniors Alert Scheme is to support independent living for those over 65 who live alone or who live with a person who is also over 65 years of age and of limited financial means. A key element of the Scheme is the provision of funding for a socially monitored alarm which supports this independence. Having regard to available funding in the current economic climate, the changes above will ensure that my Department can continue to maintain the Scheme in a viable way and provide the maximum number of socially monitored alarms to as many older persons as possible in 2012.

The temporary changes made under the Scheme will be monitored on an on-going basis and may be revised later in the year in light of the overall demand for funding relative to the budget allocation for 2012.

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