Cecilia Keaveney (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Cathaoirleach for giving me the opportunity to raise this matter on the Adjournment. I welcome the Minister of State to the House to respond to this issue, namely, the need for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to review with the Department of Health and Children the possibility of having a medical support or medical dimension incorporated within the voluntary housing scheme given the age profile of occupants.

A couple of years ago, the voluntary housing scheme was for many people a new idea and it is possible not everybody was au fait with it. In preparation for this matter, I asked a number of my colleagues if there were voluntary housing schemes in their areas. They all responded that there were several schemes in their areas. This is a good indication the scheme is successful and there exists a need for it.

Previously, the Government grant aided 95% of the cost of schemes operated by organisations which came together to provide voluntary housing for people aged over 50 years. A recent review of the scheme in terms of what organisations were required to do to obtain the 95% grant has resulted in the grant being increased to 100%. A group in Clonmany was the first to pull together in respect of voluntary housing provision in my area. Following its success, we now have voluntary housing schemes in Malin, Moville, Carndonagh and another is currently under construction in Muff.

I am asking that the Minister re-examine the age profile of the people involved and understand the concept that these people have often asked for or required rehousing having lived alone in isolated areas. Many of them are seeking the companionship of others. No two schemes in the country are the same. Some, like the Clonmany scheme, are embedded in a primary care centre type setting while others are not. Also, some of schemes are urban based while others are rural based.

A person who moves into this type of accommodation and takes ill can go to hospital. However, a difficulty arises when a person is not sick enough to remain in hospital and not well enough to go home alone. I wonder whether there needs to be tied into this scheme an element of medical support for these people. There are two options available to us, namely, we support voluntary housing schemes in becoming a little more than independent living supported by a medical dimension or we examine the supports available in private nursing homes and community nursing facilities. Ultimately, we need to provide step-down facilities from hospitals. Too often, we find the district hospital is sustaining, rightly or wrongly, people who may not necessarily need full-time medical care but are not well enough to go home alone.

Most of the people involved in voluntary housing schemes are from community-orientated backgrounds. They know the client at which their service is aimed. The thrust of the scheme is good as is the level of support given. Approximately €30 million has been injected into this area in a short period. The scheme is yielding strong results. Many of us may need to avail of this service in the future.

I am concerned about the people who live alone in a community, be it in a sheltered apartment, housing or village complex. There is need for a review by the Departments of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and Health and Children in respect of best practice in this area. This could then be used in consultation with those providing the service in the roll-out of best practice. I am not an expert on this issue. It is merely an issue which came to my attention on the basis of there being many good schemes in the country. However, people living alone who take ill are vulnerable and those living within the voluntary housing scheme are as vulnerable as they would be if they lived alone in their own homes.

My ideas on this are not set in stone. The scheme, while operating well, is not yet doing so at its best. I ask that the Minister pass on my views to the Departments of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and Health Children in terms of a review of the overall scheme. A significant amount of public money and community time and effort is being invested in this scheme. I take this opportunity to applaud those involved. While I accept there is significant grant aid involved, I am aware, having worked with a number of groups, of the significant amount of time, effort, sweat, toil and frustration involved, as is always the case when groups have to get involved in paperwork, plans and systems.

This is an excellent scheme in which many excellent people are involved. While there are many positives it is, perhaps, only through a review of the scheme we will be able to identify the areas that require improvement.

Michael Ahern (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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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.

Cecilia Keaveney (Fianna Fail)
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I would like if my contribution could be taken into consideration as part of that review to ensure issues not thought about up to now might be incorporated.