Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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67. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of money made available for the seniors' scheme this year, the amount sanctioned to date and the amount paid out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33738/13]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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The Department manages the Seniors Alert Scheme which aims to encourage and assist 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 budget allocation for 2013 for the Seniors Alert Scheme is €2.35m. The Scheme provides grant assistance towards the purchase and installation of equipment to enable older persons without sufficient means to continue to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind. Grant support is available towards the purchase and installation of personal monitored alarm systems and all applications for grant support must be submitted through community and voluntary groups registered with the Department. The Scheme is demand- led and approximately €1.377m has been paid to date this year , which has benefitted approximately 6,000 older people. Information on the Seniors Alert Scheme, payments made to date and the list of voluntary registered groups can be obtained at