Under the special housing aid for the elderly scheme, which is operated by the health boards in line with various guidelines issued from time to time by the task force that administers the scheme under the aegis of my Department, assistance is provided to improve the housing conditions of elderly persons living alone in unfit or insanitary conditions and may include works such as the installation of a septic tank. A decision to grant assistance in individual cases is the responsibility of the health boards at local level and it is a matter for each board to determine, within the funds available, the priority of cases.