Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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567. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if senior citizens groups which administer the monitored alarm scheme can also apply to administer the carbon monoxide scheme and the smoke alarms scheme; the way in which they may apply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7671/15]

Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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My Department manages the Seniors Alert Scheme which encourages 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. My Department undertook to consider new approaches to the Seniors Alert Scheme in 2014 and arising from this, it was decided that the scheme be managed by Pobal, given that organisation’s significant experience delivering programmes on behalf of Government.

Pobal’s management and administrative services for the Scheme included an invitation to tender for the supply and installation of personal monitored alarms, which was publicly advertised on eTenders on 20 October 2014. The tender included a requirement for suppliers to set out their value added services, including the supply of smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms. The tender process, which is being led by Pobal, is almost complete and following this a panel of regional suppliers will be contracted to provide the equipment within specific regional areas and the question of funding for such value added services will be further considered once the outcome of the competition is made public.