Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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530. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if his attention has been drawn to the report ,A Connected Island, An Ireland Free from Loneliness; his views on the findings of the report; the actions he plans to take on foot of the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28022/18]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I am aware of the report which the Deputy refers to. As the Deputy will appreciate, the response to the issue of loneliness and isolation is delivered across a number of Government Departments and organisations. In that regard, the funding within other Government Departments which is available to initiatives or programmes which help address loneliness is a matter for the Ministers concerned.

From my own Department's perspective, I am responsible for the Seniors Alert Scheme which encourages community support for vulnerable older people in our communities through the provision of personal monitored alarms to enable them 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 a personal alarm or pendant. 

During 2017, spend on the Scheme amounted to €2.7 million, with over 12,700 applications approved and more than 10,000 installations completed.  A new version of the scheme came into effect on 1 November 2017, introducing a number of changes, including the provision of free monitoring for the first year and a revision of the living alone requirements. To the end of May 2018, over 9,200 applications were approved, with almost 10,000 installations completed. 

The issue of isolation whether in urban or rural areas is one which should concern us all and I am committed to continuing my Department’s response to this issue through programmes such as Seniors Alert.