Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 223: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children further to Parliamentary Question No. 119 of 30 March 2006, the status of an application under the housing aid for the elderly scheme for a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19499/06]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. This includes responsibility for the provision of the Housing Aid Scheme for the Elderly, on behalf of the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

I understand from the HSE that a reply issued to the Deputy on 3 April 2006 in relation to Question No. 119 of 30 March 2006. The HSE has confirmed that the position remains unchanged and the application process is ongoing as they are still awaiting quotations requested from the applicant.

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 224: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the Health Service Executive has allowed the housing aid for the elderly scheme to be run down; if her attention has further been drawn to the fact that there is over a two year delay in approvals being issued for grant aid; if it is Health Service Executive policy to disengage from this vital scheme for the elderly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19500/06]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that the Housing Aid Scheme is administered by the Health Service Executive, on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The Scheme has not been run down. The Deputy may wish to be aware that an initial allocation of €12 million for the scheme has been allocated in 2006 compared to an initial allocation of €11 million in 2005 and the Health Service Executive regions were notified of this in February 2006. A further allocation of funding will be provided later in the year.

With regard to the delay in approvals under the Scheme, the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which includes the approval process for the Housing Aid Scheme, are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, the Health Service Executive has been asked to respond directly to the Deputy on this issue. There is no intention to disengage from the Scheme.