Donegal Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Withdrawal of Funding for older people condemned

Published: 12 April, 2009

Jim McLaughlin, Sinn Fein Candidate for the Donegal Electoral Area, has condemned the Government's Emergency Budget for suspending the Scheme of Community Support for Older People. The Scheme provides funding for the installation of personal monitored alarms and items of home security, such as door and window locks:

"The suspension of this funding is unjustifiable as it provides older people with peace of mind in their own homes. It is not acceptable that this funding is withdrawn at a time when the Central Statistics Office have indicated that burglaries are on the increase as a result of the economic recession. The Government should be urged to re-instate this modest funding for older people who are one of the most vulnerable groups in our communities. Abolishing this scheme may be a major source of concern to older people who live alone and who cannot afford to install alarms in their homes".