Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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Question 586: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position in relation to schemes run by local authorities (details supplied); if funding has been approved for these schemes and allocated to local authorities; and the breakdown of the allocations on a county basis. [19776/08]

Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 588: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when he will provide the full allocation of money to the local authorities for the processing of the housing aid for older persons scheme; and if he will clarify whether people who need assistance to carry out repairs to their house should go to the Health Service Executive or their local county council offices. [19837/08]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 589: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when Wexford County Council will be notified of their allocations under the disabled persons and essential repairs grants. [19868/08]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to answer Questions Nos. 568, 588 and 589 together.

The Housing Aid for Older People Scheme is administered by local authorities and is part of a revised framework of grant aid, introduced in November 2007, to assist older people and people with a disability with their accommodation needs. The Scheme, which amalgamates the provisions of the old Essential Repairs Grant Scheme and the existing Special Housing Aid for the Elderly Scheme (SHAE), is designed to provide targeted support to improve conditions in the existing housing of older people.

The Scheme facilitates the implementation of a Government Decision, taken in February 2006, to transfer the SHAE from the Health Service Executive to my Department. That decision arose on foot of a recommendation made in the Core Functions of the Health Service Report that a more integrated service and better value for money may be achieved by transferring responsibility for the SHAE Scheme to the local authorities, who already had responsibility for the Essential Repairs and Disabled Persons Grant Schemes.

I am conscious of the need to ensure a smooth and seamless transfer of the SHAE Scheme from the HSE to the local authority sector. To allow sufficient time to resolve relevant issues, including the allocation of staffing and other resources, it has been agreed with the HSE that the SHAE Scheme will continue to operate and be administered by the HSE, until such time as the appropriate arrangements are in place to ensure that the local authorities are in a position to accept the scheme on transfer. My Department is engaged on an ongoing basis with the HSE to conclude this process as quickly as possible. In the meantime, applicants who require repairs or improvements to their homes can avail of either the Housing Aid for Older People Scheme or the Special Housing Aid for the Elderly Scheme.

The Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability are funded by 80% recoupment available from my Department, together with 20% contribution from the resources of the local authority. Notification of the combined capital allocations for 2008 in respect of the Schemes will shortly issue to local authorities. It is a matter for local authorities to decide on the specific level of funding to be directed towards each of the Schemes, from within the combined allocation notified to them by my Department, and to manage the operation of the Schemes in their area from within this allocation.