Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the witnesses for responding with those points. I stated there are more than 700 persons in Carlow-Kilkenny waiting for hospital appointments. I do not know how many of them are elderly but maybe the elderly could be made a high priority, particularly if they are in pain. Everybody is a priority but one hates to think of the elderly maybe not getting a lift or whatever.

It is appropriate that we say "well done" to the older persons' forum, particularly Mr. Joe Butler and those in Carlow who I would meet as often as I can. On-street parking is important but my issue would be more within a housing estate where a person is elderly and cannot get his or her messages in.

I have highlighted that people, as they are getting older, are coming in looking for stoves and I am sure the witnesses are aware of this. There is no Government scheme to provide grants for stoves. If one is in a local authority house, one can avail of what is called the "self-help" scheme which qualifies one for half of it but then the person must come up with other half if he or she wants a stove. If one is a homeowner, it is difficult to get stoves. I am wondering whether the witnesses have found this but in the past few months, particularly with the winters having got so cold, many people have been coming to me on this matter. I will put it on my priority list with the Minister but I wonder if the witnesses would also make that a priority.

There is something else I will ask them before I finish. The grant scheme normally operates twice a year. One gets the grant scheme in January for local authorities but then it finishes. Normally, one receives a letter stating there is no funding at present and must reapply in September. I have issues with this. Could all the different groups ask the Government to sort out the funding and not send out letters stating that its funding is used, it is not in a position to respond and it might have more funding at the end of the year?

Normally it does come twice a year, I am not saying that it does not.