The task force on special housing aid for the elderly, under the aegis of the Department of the Environment and Local Government, has made an initial allocation of grants totalling €11 million to health boards for essential repairs to houses occupied by elderly persons living on their own. In 1997, the allocation for the task force was a little over €5 million, with approximately 3,000 jobs completed in that year. In 1998 and 1999, with allocations increased to over €6.3 million and €7.6 million respectively, a further 6,500 jobs were undertaken.