Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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My Department manages the Seniors Alert Scheme which encourages community support for vulnerable older people in our communities by providing grant assistance towards the purchase and installation of personal monitored alarms to enable older persons, of limited means, to continue to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind. The scheme is administered by local community and voluntary groups with the support of my Department.

The maximum grant per beneficiary for equipment is as follows:

- Monitored personal alarms (with pendant) - €250

-  Additional pendant/Re-installation - €50

The annual monitoring costs (generally between €60 - €80 per annum) are borne by the beneficiary.

My Department undertook to consider new approaches to the Seniors Alert Scheme in 2014 and arising from this, it was decided that the scheme be managed by Pobal, given that organisation’s significant experience delivering programmes on behalf of Government.

Pobal’s management and administrative services for the Scheme includes an invitation to tender for the supply and installation of personal monitored alarms, which was publicly advertised on eTenders on 20 October 2014. The tender process, which is being led by Pobal, is almost complete.

It should be noted that there are no legal mandatory standards required for the manufacture of personal alarms. Many of the existing units comply with the EU standard; newer manufacturers of equipment or the newer more innovative technologies may meet other quality standards e.g. ISO standard. Under the tender competition, those suppliers that meet the minimum requirement will score the minimum amount of marks available and suppliers that propose products over and above the minimum requirements will be awarded a higher score.

Monitoring has always been the responsibility of the beneficiary and this is not changing. There are no implications for existing installations in respect of the new arrangements; however, Pobal are also providing a facility for beneficiaries to choose from a panel of monitoring companies if desired. In this regard, Pobal will also set up a panel of pre-qualified telecare service providers, who provide monitoring services. There is no onus on anyone to change from their current monitoring company.

The operational handover between my Department and Pobal is proceeding and should be completed mid-year. In the meantime Community and Voluntary Groups wishing to draw down grant support under the Seniors Alert Scheme can continue to apply to my Department in the usual way.

This new approach will reduce the administrative burden for the many hundreds of community and voluntary groups registered under the Scheme, who provide an excellent service for the elderly. It will enable the groups to concentrate on the main purpose of the Scheme, namely to support and interact with the elderly in the local community.