Vol. 471 No. 2
112 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for the Environment whether extra finance will be made available to either local authorities or the health boards to enable a fund for replacing doors and windows of houses of senior citizens who have been given a chance to have security devices fitted, but whose doors and windows are not currently suitable from a security point of view; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20498/96]
Funding may be available for the carrying out of the type of work in question under the special housing aid for the elderly scheme, which is administered by health boards, and the essential repairs grant scheme, which is administered by local authorities. The allocation for special housing aid for the elderly has been maintained at a high level — £4 million in 1996 — and my Department recoups local authorities up to a maximum of £900 in each case under the essential repairs grant scheme.
I understand that funding is also available from the Department of Social Welfare for the installation of security devices arising from the recommendations of the Task Force on Security for the elderly established by the Minister for Social Welfare.
