John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 344: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the action being taken by his Department to deal with the funding issue for the housing aid for the elderly scheme and if cases can be prioritised based on age and medical circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24056/04]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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The special housing aid for the elderly scheme is administered by a task force under the aegis of my Department and operated by the health boards at local level. It is a matter for each board to determine, within the funds available, the priority of individual cases on hand.

In recognition of the valuable work being done, funding for the scheme generally has been increased significantly since 1997, with a provision of €5.08 million in that year raised to €6.35 million in 1998 and progressively raised each subsequent year to a level of €11.536 million in 2003, to now stand at €15.6 million for 2004.

To date, €1.35 million has been allocated to the South Eastern Health Board for the operation of the scheme for 2004, compared to a total allocation of €1.284 million for 2003. A second round allocation for 2004 will shortly be notified to the boards and this will enable them to continue a high level of activity under the scheme.