Sorca Clarke
Question:371. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the estimated cost in 2024 if the budget for the senior alert scheme increased by 20%. [43357/23]
View answerThursday, 5 October 2023
Questions (371)
Written answers
The allocation for the Seniors Alert Scheme for 2023 was €2.3m. The 2024 allocation is currently being discussed as part of the budget estimates process. As this is a demand led scheme, it is kept under continuous review by my Department to ensure adequate funding can be made available to meet the requirements of all qualifying applicants. There is also provision under the Dormant Accounts Fund Action Plan for funding to meet the additional and exceptional demands of the Scheme.
Every eligible applicant under the Scheme has become a participant with currently over 117,000 participants supported under the Scheme.
It is proposed, subject to Budget requirements, to adopt a similar approach in 2024 with the key priority of ensuring every eligible applicant continues to be supported under the Scheme.