Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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854. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of funding that has been spent on the senior alert scheme from January 2013 to date in 2013; if he expects the full allocation of €2.45 million to be used this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36891/13]

Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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900. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide assurances that funding will be maintained for the senior alerts scheme which provides safety and security to vulnerable persons living in the community at a nominal monitoring charge. [37629/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 854 and 900 together.

The Seniors Alert 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. The Scheme is administered by local community and voluntary groups with the support of my Department.

The funding allocated to the Seniors Alert Scheme in 2013 is €2.35m. Expenditure to date on the Scheme is approximately €1.795m (76%). I expect the full allocation to be spent by year-end.

On-going funding for my Department's programme s in 2014, including the Seniors Alert Scheme, will be considered in the context of the annual Estimates process.