Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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612. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development in the context of the community alert system and the additional funding promised to expand same to outline the way in which the new scheme will operate; the amount of the charge that recipients of the scheme will pay after the first year of availing of same and for each year thereafter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7413/18]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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My Department is responsible for the Seniors Alert Scheme which encourages support for vulnerable people in our communities 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. The scheme is operated on my Department's behalf by Pobal.

Following a review, a new version of the scheme was launched on 1st November 2017. A number of important new changes were introduced, including an extension of the eligibility criteria to include elderly people who live on their own for long periods during the day and the introduction of free monitoring for the first year, following which a small charge will apply. The amount of this charge will depend on the service provider and the type of alarm or pendant provided, but it is anticipated that it will be in the region of €60 per annum.

In tandem with the new scheme, a nationwide public awareness campaign is being rolled out, in partnership with Pobal, to encourage a greater level of awareness, interest and participation in the scheme.

I am pleased to report a very high uptake of the new scheme which I have facilitated through the provision of additional funding. By end December 2017, over 21,000 applications had been approved and some 18,000 installations were made. My Department will continue to review the operation of the scheme, and will continue to encourage elderly people to avail of it.