1341. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the percentage of the budget allocation for the senior alert scheme that has been spent in the first ten months of 2024; and if she will provide correspondence figures for the same period in 2022 and 2023, in tabular form. [45182/24]

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 by a registered community based-organisation of a personal alarm or pendant. The scheme is administered by Pobal with the support of local community and voluntary groups.

The annual budget for the scheme for years 2022, 2023 and 2024 was €2.3m with up to an additional €2.7m available from the Dormant Accounts Fund.

As this is a demand-led scheme, it is kept under continuous review by my Department to ensure adequate funding is available to meet the requirements of all qualifying applicants.

A provisional figure for the Seniors Alert Scheme spend to end October 2024 has been provided in the table. This is based on figures available on 1 November 2024 and may be subject to minor changes. It is expected that the % of budget spend at end October 2024 will be broadly consistent with previous years.

*This figure is provisional.