Housing aid for the elderly is a wonderful scheme which has done tremendous work. It is currently adminstered by the health boards. It should be taken over by the local authorities because it is more pertinent to the services provided by them. The health boards are health agencies, not housing agencies. Rent allowances should also be under the aegis of the local authorities. It is ludicrous that health board community welfare officers must spend long hours adjudicating on and paying rent allowances. That is not their job.