Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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551. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to introduce grants for the elderly to obtain smoke alarms and personal alarms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4074/14]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The Seniors Alert Scheme aims to encourage community support for vulnerable older people in our communities by providing grant assistance towards the purchase and installation of personal monitored alarms to enable older persons, of limited 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 allocation for the Seniors Alert Scheme for 2014 is €2.35 million which is sufficient to meet current demand levels for this important scheme.

My Department also supports a Smoke Alarm Scheme, initiated in 2006, and operated by local authorities to provide smoke alarms to vulnerable households. I intend running a similar community fire safety initiative this year. Any queries about the Smoke Alarm Scheme, or obtaining such alarms, may be directed to local authorities.