§ Rev. Martin SmythTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what consideration has been given to the provision of financial support for disabled people below pensionable age in Northern Ireland so that they may benefit from the alarm call system provided for elderly disabled people.
§ Mr. HanleyWhere help with an alarm call system is not available from any other source, a non-repayable community care grant from the social fund may be made available to disabled and other vulnerable people receiving income support. Each case is decided on its merits by a social fund officer.
§ Rev. Martin SmythTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many 24-hour alarm call systems have been provided by health boards to disabled people below pensionable age in Northern Ireland; how many are planned for provision in the future; and what assessment has been made of how many such people might benefit from such a system.
§ Mr. HanleyThe total number of emergency alarm systems currently provided by health and social services boards to disabled people under pensionable age is 77. The396W number of people who might benefit from such a system and the number of alarms to be provided in the future will depend on assessments of the needs of individual disabled persons by health and social services boards.