Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 308: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if there are circumstances in which a person who is not of pension age but with long term medical concerns can be considered for special housing aid for the elderly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3612/07]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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The Housing Aid for the Elderly Scheme is administered by the Health Service Executive (HSE) on behalf of the Department of Environment Heritage and Local Government. The primary aim of the scheme is to provide financial assistance to older people who reside alone and who are not in a position to carry out urgent, necessary repairs to their own homes from their own resources.

Applications for the Housing Aid for the Elderly Scheme are assessed by HSE personnel. Whilst the means of the applicant and spouse/ partner may be considered, eligibility for this scheme is not based on means only — the following are the guidelines for the scheme:

Be aged 65 years or over

Be living on their own or with another older person or person with a disability

Be living in unfit or unsanitary conditions

Have no able bodied person available to carry out essential repairs

The Housing Aid Scheme applies to privately owned accommodation only.

It is open to the individual concerned to contact the HSE directly to discuss their case. It may also be appropriate for the individual to contact their Local Authority regarding other grant schemes that may be relevant, for example, the Disabled Persons Grant Scheme.