As attacks on old people continue to claim lives, the Government is to provide a further £3 million for security measures for those who are vulnerable. In June a 69-year-old Dublin woman collapsed and died after an attempted burglary at her home.
At the weekend a 74-year-old Cork woman was found dead, apparently of a heart attack, after she was tied up by an intruder. Demand for funding under the scheme which pays for security measures has been very high this year. Applications have already been received for £5.6 million, according to the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs.
The last government provided £2 million, and the Minister, Mr Ahern, has now secured an extra £3 million for the Scheme of Community Support for Older People.
The scheme is run in conjunction with Muintir na Tire, Victim Support, Neighbourhood Watch, Community Alert and the Garda Siochana.
It provides funds for alarm systems which are monitored by community groups and for smallscale physical security equipment such as domestic window locks, door chains and locks and security lighting.
Last February raiders who broke into the home of a 70-yearold Co Louth man fled when he activated a Victim Support alarm hanging around his neck. His action set off a noise in his telephone and alerted Victim Support's helpline.
At the time Victim Support said it had installed more than 2,000 emergency response telephones in the previous 18 months and was in the course of installing a further 1,000.
Last year the Government allocated £2.6 million under the scheme. According to Muintir na Tire, 15,000 people benefited from it.
With concern about attacks on elderly people running at a high level last year, Muintir na Tire called for a feasibility study on allowing people over 65 years of age to lodge up to £10,000 in a financial institution without having to pay DIRT tax and without affecting their social welfare payments or medical cards.
The call was backed by the Irish Farmers' Association and supported by Fianna Fail's then social welfare spokesman, Mr Joe Walsh TD.
The Government's programme, Action Plan for the Millennium, does not mention the £10,000 allowance but pledges to improve tax allowances for old people.
Announcing the extra allocation of £3 million yesterday, Mr Ahern said the scheme "has been very effective in getting assistance to the most vulnerable older people in a cost-effective and streamlined fashion".
He said he intends "to undertake a fundamental review of the scheme in consultation with the Minister of State with responsibility for the elderly, Tom Moffatt".
The scheme was introduced by the previous minister for social welfare, Mr Proinsias de Rossa, in response to concerns about a spate of attacks on old people in rural areas.
This year has seen a continuation of vicious attacks on old people in both urban and rural areas.