Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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My Department’s mission is to support vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities throughout Ireland. In delivering on its mission, my Department provides a wide range of programmes, schemes, and policies to support individuals living in our communities, of all ages. Funding provided by my Department supports both urban and rural communities and includes supports for sports clubs, youth groups, and community and voluntary groups.

My Department seeks to provide flexible approaches to funding of such groups so that appropriate supports can be provided for all communities, and for people of all ages. With regard to supports that assist with positive aging, a number of schemes would be of particular importance.

The Senior Alert Scheme 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. The Dormant Accounts Fund helps to support this scheme given the level of demand for it.

The CLÁR Programme provides capital support for projects which assist in positive aging, for example, community gyms, outdoor gyms and public walkways. The Community Centre Investment Fund is financing improvements to community centres throughout the country, many of which are used for community activities that promote and assist in positive aging. The Community Services Programme (CSP) supports over 2,000 positions in more than 420 community organisations to provide a vast range of local services through a social enterprise model. The CSP supports a range of services and activities that enhance the quality of life of older people, including the provision of meals within centres and via a meals-on-wheels service.

The Positive Ageing Strategy has a specific goal regarding removing barriers to participation. My Department contributes to this through supports for the Public Participation Networks (PPNs) across the country. The PPNs are important structures enabling and encouraging active participation at local level and give citizens a greater say in local government decisions which affect their own communities.

I would also note ongoing annual support for both Tidy Towns, and Men’s and Women’s Sheds, both of which are important outlets for people of all ages, but which make a particularly strong contribution to positive aging and ensuring our communities remain welcoming places for all.

Given the range of supports outlined, I am satisfied that our programmes and schemes make a strong contribution to assisting with positive aging, and that the flexibility offered by our schemes ensure all groups that need support can obtain it.