Micheál Carrigy (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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129. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the reason a community centre (details supplied) was not selected for funding under the recent tranche of the community centres investment fund; if specific feedback will be made available to the committee to support future applications; if there is an appeals mechanism in place under this funding scheme; if further funding opportunities will be made available in 2025 to support community centres seeking capital investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14575/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Community Centre Investment Fund has provided in excess of €109 million since 2022 for the enhancement and refurbishment of existing community centres and the construction of new centres.

Over €33 million has now been approved for in excess of 770 projects nationwide under the 2024 fund. However, given the very significant level of demand, not all applications were successful.

The facility referenced by the Deputy submitted an application under category 2 of the 2024 fund seeking support of €45,000 for enhancement works on the facility. The application reached the minimum scoring threshold required to be eligible for consideration but did not score high enough to be successful on this occasion.

Correspondence is now issuing to all unsuccessful applicants. The community centre referred to by the Deputy is being offered an opportunity to avail of a feedback call which will clearly explain the basis for the decision and areas where the application can be strengthened.

There is also an opportunity to appeal the outcome of this application process and this will also be outlined during any feedback call.

I am committed to delivering further iterations of the scheme in the coming years in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government for this to become a permanent rolling fund.

In addition all unsuccessful groups may wish to explore other potential funding options supported by my Department, including the LEADER programme, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and the CLÁR programme. Details of these and other schemes are available on the Department’s website.

Micheál Carrigy (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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130. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if an expanded range of technologies will be considered for inclusion in the seniors alert scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14574/25]

Mark Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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434. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development to provide an update on the senior alerts scheme; the number of schemes operating in the country; the number of applications for the past three years; if there are plans to change or enhance the seniors alert scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14930/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 130 and 434 together.

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 for the purchase, via a registered community based-organisation, of a personal alarm or pendant.

Pobal has administered the scheme on behalf of my Department since 2015, with over 140,000 approved participants since then. I am pleased to say that in recent years, demand for the Seniors Alert Scheme has continued, with over 18,200 new participants approved for the Scheme in 2024. There are 629 active approved community organisations involved in the scheme.

The number of approved participants over the past three years are shown in the table below:

The current version of the scheme came into effect in September 2021 and introduced a new key feature in the additional option of a digital alarm, for use with web based connections.

The scheme has been using multi-network SIMs since September 2021 which ensures the devices can use the network with the strongest signal in the vicinity when the alarm is raised. Also, since 2021, the devices installed provide between 24 and 48 hours battery life to ensure that they can still operate during localised power cuts.

Officials in my department are currently working with Pobal in advance of a new iteration of the scheme, which will take account of new and developing technologies. This will ensure that emerging developments in the sector can be incorporated into the scheme going forward and that the scheme meets the needs of participants for many years to come.