Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 547: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a company (details supplied) have used up their budget allocation for the installation of gas central heating into the homes of the elderly for 2005 and that current projects have had to be put on hold until they get further funding from his Department; his views on the allocation of extra funding as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18023/06]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I assume that the Question refers to the special Housing Aid for the Elderly Scheme which is operated by the Health Service Executive, formerly the Health Boards, in line with various guidelines issued from time to time by the Task Force who administer the scheme under the aegis of my Department. Under the scheme, aid is provided to improve the housing conditions of elderly persons living alone in unfit or unsanitary conditions and was extended to include the provision of suitable heating system where found necessary in 2000.

An initial allocation of €4.2 million for the scheme was notified to Dublin/North East and Dublin Mid Leinster regions in February, 2006 and it is a matter for the HSE Directorate of Services for Older People, which has responsibility for the administration of the scheme, to apportion funding to a particular area. My Department understands that while the overall funding has not been exhausted, the total allocation apportioned by them to undertake work connected with heating has been used. However, the Eastern Community Works Limited have been requested to consider this matter further with a view to making some additional funding available for the provision of heating until a further allocation of funding will be notified to the Regions following receipt of the mid-year returns, later in the year.