Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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999. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if funding will be provided to allow the reinstatement of the community lighting programme for elderly persons previously funded through Pobal and administered by local community groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54056/18]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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My Department is 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.

Up to March 2012, grants were provided towards the cost of supplying and installing personal monitored alarm systems, monitored smoke & carbon monoxide detectors and other security related items. Due to increased demand, an examination of the scheme was conducted early in 2012 and funding was made available for personal monitored alarms only.

Following a review, a new version of the scheme came into effect on 1 November 2017. A number of changes were introduced under the new scheme including the provision of free monitoring for the first year and a revision of the living alone requirements. I am pleased to say that since the launch of the new Seniors Alert Scheme, the demand has been unprecedented. During 2017 over 12,600 applications were approved and more than 10,000 installations completed. During 2018, over 19,200 applications were approved, with 20,288 installations completed.

There are no proposals, at this stage, to include security lighting or other measures in the Seniors Alert Scheme. However, the matter will be kept under review.