Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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1017. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of applications received to the seniors alert scheme in each of the years 2016 to 2018, by county; the number of applications approved and not approved respectively, by county in tabular form; and the number of completed alarm installations. [54292/18]

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.

Following a review, I launched a new scheme which took effect on 1 November 2017. A media and information campaign was organised to support the launch.

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.

Since September 2015, Pobal has operated the scheme on behalf of my Department. The table below provides information of approved participants and installations by county from September 2015 to the end of 2018. The number of ‘not approved’ applications amounts to 1,135 over that period. This number includes both unsuccessful applications and applications withdrawn by the applicant prior to approval for a variety of reasons. It is not available on a county basis at present. A further 3,076 approved applications were cancelled by participants prior to installations for a variety of reasons, including changes of circumstances of the applicant such as admission to hospital or residential care and other changes in living arrangements.

Approved participants by county by year, and completed installations by county:

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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1018. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount of capital and current funding respectively, allocated to the seniors alert scheme in each of the years 2015 to 2018, in tabular form; the 2019 allocation; and the amount expended in each year to date. [54293/18]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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My Department is responsible for the Seniors Alerts Scheme which provides funding for personal monitored alarms for older people to enable them to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind. Following a review, I launched a new scheme which took effect on 1 November 2017. A media and information campaign was organised to support the launch. In addition to the provision of the alarm equipment, there were modifications to the qualifying conditions of the scheme, and the first year of monitoring is free to each new participant.

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. With the huge increased demand for the scheme and the provision of one year free monitoring, expenditure in 2017 and 2018 exceeded the allocation available for the scheme. However, in both years savings were identified from other areas within my Department's allocation to ensure that all new applicants could be provided for. There is also provision under the Dormant Accounts Fund Action Plan 2018, which also covers 2019, for funding to meet the additional and exceptional demands of the Scheme.

As this is a demand led scheme, it is kept under continuous review by officials in my department to ensure adequate funding can be made available to meet the requirements of all qualifying applicants. I intend that this will also be the case during 2019.