Seán Ardagh (Dublin South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 517: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when funds will be provided by his Department in order that a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12 will receive the heating grant which has been approved under the Health Service Executive home improvement scheme for older persons. [23452/06]

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 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 in 2000 to include the provision of suitable heating system where found necessary.

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 the next meeting of the Task Force.