Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 1298: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the allocation made in the years 2006 and 2007 and the proposed allocation for 2008 toward housing aid for the elderly and the breakdown of these figures for County Cork including each administrative area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36041/07]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The special housing aid for the elderly scheme is currently administered by a Task Force under the aegis of my Department and operated at a local level by the Health Service Executive. A total of €22.012 million in 2006 and €19.132 million in 2007 was allocated to the Health Service Executive for the operation of this scheme nationally. Of this €4.8 million in 2006 and €3.498 million in 2007 was allocated to the southern HSE region, which includes County Cork. It is a matter for the HSE to apportion funding within regions. The special Housing Aid for the Elderly is being discontinued with effect from the end of March 2008. The scheme is being replaced by a new Housing Aid for Older People Scheme which was introduced in November 2007 and is being administered by the Local Authorities. All applications submitted under the old scheme will be dealt with by the HSE. The allocation to the HSE in 2008 will be determined in the context of the applications on hand and the overall level of grant commitments within HSE regions.