John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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535. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development his plans to introduce a home alarm monitoring system for the elderly in partnership with a service provider as part of budget 2018. [43595/17]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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My Department is responsible for the Seniors Alerts Scheme, which encourages support for vulnerable older people in our community through the provision of personal monitored alarms to enable them to continue to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind. Funding is available under the scheme towards the purchase by a registered community-based organisation of equipment, i.e. a personal alarm and/or pendant, which is provided to the elderly person participating, while the associated monitoring and service charges are the responsibility of the individual participant.

The scheme is administered on my Department's behalf by Pobal. Following a recent review of the scheme, a new iteration of the Seniors Alert Scheme will shortly be launched.