Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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207. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the levels of funding his Department has provided over the past five years for the seniors alert scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23056/17]

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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208. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will consider increasing the funding supports and availability of the seniors alert scheme in particular items such as pendant alarms and panic buttons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23057/17]

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 207 and 208 together.

My Department is responsible for the Seniors Alert Scheme, which encourages support for vulnerable older people, including those in declining health and/or those living in isolated rural communities, by providing grant assistance towards the purchase and installation of personal monitored alarms. The aim of the scheme is to enable older persons of limited means to continue to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind. 

The Government’s commitment to the Seniors Alert Scheme is set out in the Programme for Partnership Government, which provides for significant investment in this demand-led scheme.

The scheme is administered on my Department’s behalf by Pobal. Following a recent review of the scheme, a new version of the Seniors Alert Scheme will be launched in September 2017. The design of the new iteration is currently under consideration.

The funding allocated and drawn down each year from 2012 to 2016 and the allocation in 2017 are outlined in the following table.