Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)

I support Senator Quinn's call for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to come to the House to discuss An Bord Pleanála and An Taisce, which is a blight for many people down the country in that it seems to have the ability to become a serial objector — in fact, it objects to pretty much everything in my part of the world.

I would also like the Minister to answer questions on the housing aid for the elderly scheme which used to be administered by the HSE but which will now come under his Department. Other grant schemes will also be administered and expanded by his Department. I calculate that approximately 140 people in the HSE administered the housing aid for the elderly scheme. This job is now being transferred to the Minister's Department and the local authorities but the staff have not been forthcoming. As a result of embargoes, no staff will be supplied to administer the scheme and the other expanded schemes.

I want to ensure that in 18 months' time we do not receive calls from local authority members telling us applications are not being processed. In some counties, the processing of applications is very slow. Perhaps we might discuss that matter when the Minister comes to the House.