Written answers

Tuesday, 14 February 2006

Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government

Housing Aid for the Elderly

9:00 pm

Photo of Damien EnglishDamien English (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 133: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he intends to increase funding for care of the elderly under the special housing aid for the elderly scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5372/06]

Photo of Martin BradyMartin Brady (Dublin North East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 644: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, further to the allocation of €12 million from his Department to the Health Service Executive for the special housing aid for the elderly scheme 2006, if it is his intention to provide further moneys to include the replacement of windows for the elderly who are in urgent need of this work to be carried out at their homes as local authorities do not provide for this work in their essential repairs grant. [5491/06]

Photo of Noel AhernNoel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 133 and 644 together.

The special housing aid for the elderly scheme, administered by a task force under the aegis of my Department and operated by the Health Service Executive, was established to provide assistance to improve the housing conditions of elderly persons living alone in unfit and insanitary conditions. Typically, the work undertaken would be necessary repairs to make a dwelling habitable for the lifetime of the occupant, such as repairs to chimney or fireplace, the provision of heating, water and sanitary facilities, the repair of windows or doors, roof repairs, the provision of food storage facilities and so forth.

An allocation of €12 million for the scheme, compared with an initial allocation of €11 million in 2005, has recently been notified to the Health Service Executive regions. A further allocation of funding will be provided later in the year.

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