Michael Ahern (Cork East, Fianna Fail)

I thank Senator Keaveney for raising this issue which I am taking on behalf of my colleague, the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe.

I am pleased to have the opportunity to place on the record of the House my appreciation of the good work being done by the voluntary housing sector in Ireland. The provision of accommodation by approved voluntary and co-operative housing bodies is an integral part of the Department's overall response to delivering on social housing need. The sector works in close co-operation with the local authorities in delivering an expanded range of accommodation types. Voluntary housing bodies have, for more than 20 years, championed the provision of special needs housing for many vulnerable groups in this country including the elderly, the homeless and persons with an intellectual or physical disability.

To date more than 20,000 units of accommodation have been provided by the voluntary and co-operative housing sector. This was made possible with the assistance of capital grants from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government of up to 100% of the approved cost of schemes. Last year, capital investment in voluntary and co-operative housing reached an all-time high, with more than €270 million being provided by the Department. This enabled more than 2,200 units of accommodation to commence construction last year, the highest number ever recorded by the voluntary and co-operative sector.

Specific State support for the accommodation needs of older people ranges from grant schemes which allow people to remain in their own homes to the provision of specific sheltered housing options. Many voluntary housing bodies are actively involved in the provision of sheltered housing for older people and it is recognised that, as is the case with most vulnerable groups, interventions in this area generally require an inter-agency response, particularly where there is a care dimension to the supports required.

The cross-departmental team established in July 2007 is chaired by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and includes representatives from the office of the Minister with responsibility for older people within the Department of Health and Children, the Health Service Executive, local authorities and the Office for Social Inclusion. The team will, over the course of 2008, develop the policy framework in respect of sheltered housing for older people. This will feed into the new national positive aging strategy to be developed by the office of the Minister of State, Deputy Hoctor. The completion of the work by the cross-departmental team is an important contribution towards the continued development of comprehensive housing and care solutions which will further enhance the quality of life of older people in Ireland today.