Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 1445: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the moneys paid in respect of the safe home programme in each of the past ten years; if annual reports have been furnished in respect of the programme; if he has satisfied himself in relation to those reports; if buildings are owned by his Department where the programme is centred, if not, the person who is the landlord; the extent of such buildings or other assets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40338/05]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 1452: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the amount of funding over each of the past ten years to date that has been allocated through the voluntary housing capital assistance scheme to the safe home programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40378/05]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1445 and 1452 together.

Under the amendment made to the terms of my Department's voluntary housing capital assistance scheme in November 2001, up to 25% of accommodation in projects provided throughout the country by individual voluntary housing bodies with funding under the scheme may be allocated to elderly returning emigrants who satisfy eligibility criteria in relation to their present circumstances and are included in the safe home waiting list.

The safe home organisation assesses applications from returning elderly emigrants for accommodation under the scheme and compiles a list of eligible applicants and carries out a co-ordinating role, liasing with relevant individual voluntary housing bodies and local authorities throughout the country in securing accommodation in new or existing projects. Elderly emigrants wishing to apply for such rental accommodation may contact the safe home programme, Saint Brendan's Village, Mulranny, County Mayo, to be included in its waiting list. The organisation periodically furnishes reports to my Department regarding the scheme. The units remain the property of the particular voluntary body providing the accommodation.

Since the amendment to the voluntary housing capital assistance scheme in 2001 a total of 259 units of such accommodation have been provided nationwide which includes 51 in County Mayo. The funding allocated in respect of the provision of accommodation and the administration and general expenses towards the programme is set out in the following table: