Tom Neville (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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620. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will address a matter (details supplied) regarding assistance to repair an alarm system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4539/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government is the lead Department for severe weather emergencies and the Office of Public Works has responsibility for capital flood relief activities. My Department has an important role to play in assisting households in the immediate aftermath of emergency events such as flooding through the humanitarian assistance scheme.

The purpose of the humanitarian assistance scheme is to prevent hardship by providing income-tested financial support to people whose homes are damaged from flooding and severe weather events and who are not in a position to meet costs for essential needs, household items and in some instances structural repair.

The scheme does not provide assistance towards the replacement or repair of personal alarm systems.

The Department of Rural and Community Development provides funding, through Pobal and community, voluntary and not-for-profit organisations registered with Pobal, for the Seniors Alert Scheme, which provides personal monitored alarms to older persons of limited means. I would suggest the Deputy follows up with the Department of Rural and Community Development in relation to this matter.