Phil Hogan: Taoiseach forces him to reinstate grants
TAOISEACH Enda Kenny ordered minister Phil Hogan to reverse cuts to pensioners’ security alarms after a wave of burglaries across the country – including ten break-ins in Co Donegal.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny told RTÉ’s “This Week” programme that every person over the age of 65 is still eligible for personal alarms, a U-turn on a decision by Minister Hogan.
His department had previously said that eligibility for the Seniors Alarm Scheme was being restricted to older people living alone.
Confirming the embarrassing u-turn, a spokesman for the Department of the Environment said it had been decided to reinstate last year’s level of funding for the scheme.
The scheme costs €2.45m and the decision to reduce this year’s spending to €1.15m has been withdrawn.
The original decision to halve the funding met a storm of protest after it was communicated to voluntary organisations – on the same day a Traveller gang raided eight homes in Raphoe and Convoy and 72 hours after the attack on Greta Lilly.