Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Question 676: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of housing associations in the State which cater for the provision of housing for persons with disabilities; and the number of such houses which are currently available. [23860/05]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Under the voluntary housing capital assistance scheme, accommodation may be provided for persons with special needs such as the elderly, homeless or persons with disabilities. The scheme is not designed to provide nursing homes or accommodation where residents would require extensive medical, nursing or institutional type care.

However, some housing projects, which require a higher ratio of carers to residents than a caretaker to allow for independent living, may be provided through a shared funding arrangement between the housing authority concerned and the Health Service Executive. Assistance towards the cost of care and support services provided in sheltered housing over and above those normally required in housing management are a matter for the Health Service Executive.

My Department's involvement relates primarily to the provision of funds for individual projects. The administration of the voluntary housing scheme and the certification that particular projects comply with the terms of the scheme are the responsibility of local authorities and any proposals to meet housing needs are submitted to the relevant local authority for consideration.

There are currently 601 voluntary bodies with approved status from my Department, who may seek assistance to provide accommodation for any, or a number of, eligible categories of persons. Since the commencement of the scheme, over 9,500 units of accommodation have been provided. Details of the number of accommodation units specifically provided for the various eligible categories of persons are not available in my Department.