Vol. 542 No. 5
350 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason a heating grant application by a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has not been dealt with; when the application was received; and when it will be dealt with. [25335/01]
As the Deputy is aware, the special housing aid scheme for the elderly, in the Mayo area, is administered by the Western Health Board, on behalf of the Department of the Environment and Local Government. I have asked the chief executive officer of the board to investigate this particular case and reply to the Deputy as a matter of urgency.
351 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of central heating grants approved by the Western Health Board in Counties Mayo, Roscommon and Galway; the number of applications for oil fired central heating approved; and the number of applications for storage heating approved. [25336/01]
The special housing aid scheme for the elderly is administered by the health boards on behalf of the Department of the Environment and Local Government and, in this regard, the Western Health Board is responsible for the three counties in question. The information sought in this instance is not readily available in my Department. I have asked the chief executive officer of the Western Health Board to respond direct to the Deputy, as a matter of urgency, with the required details.
352. Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if the housing aid for the elderly scheme is means tested; if so, the criteria for this test; and the extent to which ownership or occupancy for life or tenancy of the property influences a decision to carry out work under this scheme. [24971/01]
The special housing aid for the elderly scheme, which is administered by a task force under the aegis of my Department, provides assistance to improve the housing conditions of elderly persons living alone in unfit or unsanitary conditions. The scheme is operated by the health boards in line with the various guidelines issued from time to time by my Department and is not means tested. Work under this scheme may be carried out in respect of owner occupied or private rented dwellings.
As the maintenance of rented local authority dwellings is the responsibility of the local authority concerned, the scheme does not extend to such dwellings.
