Vol. 480 No. 6
335 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the percentage of applications for the special housing aid for the elderly scheme which had to be refused or retained on file due to lack of funding in the Western Health Board for the years 1996 and 1997. [14314/97]
336 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the moneys which were allocated to the Western Health Board in 1997 for use under the special housing aid for the elderly scheme; and the plans, if any, he has to increase this funding for 1997. [14315/97]
337 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the criteria for allocating funding to each health board for use under the special housing aid for the elderly scheme; and whether it is based on the ratio of elderly in each population. [14316/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 335, 336 and 337 together.
The scheme of special housing aid for the elderly, administered by a task force under the aegis of my Department and operated by the health boards, was established to provide assistance to improve housing conditions of elderly persons living on their own in unfit or insanitary conditions. In making annual financial allocations to health boards, the task force has regard to the overall level of funding available for the scheme, the need and demand for the scheme in the different areas, as evidenced by returns supplied by the health boards concerned, the number of elderly persons in health board areas, and the capacity of the boards to effectively and fully utilise the funding within the year.
