Vol. 546 No. 5
152 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on the age limit of 65 years being put on applications for special housing aid for the elderly; his views on whether this is considered as elderly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32232/01]
As the Deputy may be aware, the special housing aid scheme for the elderly is operated by the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the health boards on behalf of the Department of the Environment and Local Government, which funds it.
The guidelines for the operation of the scheme are determined by a task force which is chaired by an officer of the Department of the Environment and Local Government. That Department has informed my Department that there is no regulation or instruction in relation to this scheme which defines "elderly" as exactly 65 years or over. This is a deliberate policy to allow some flexibility to health boards to grant aid some persons who might be slightly under the 65 years mark. However, in the final analysis, it is up to each health board to apply the age limit as it considers appropriate.
My Department has also made specific inquiries of the Western Health Board as to how it operates the scheme in its area. The board states that the scheme is designed to provide basic housing repairs for older persons, those 65 years and over, who live alone or with spouse or family who are also elderly. However, persons under 65 years of age are not automatically debarred from the scheme but such applications are only considered where there are extenuating circumstances. Each application is assessed on its merits and, bearing in mind the health of the applicant and if the housing conditions require urgent repairs, it can be deemed eligible. This would apply, in particular, in the case of intellectually disabled people living in the community, who would not be in a position to carry out repairs to their house.
My Department has asked the Western Health Board to send to the Deputy details on the special housing aid scheme for the elderly that is distributed by the board's Mayo community services division.
153 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason persons under 65 years of age with very severe health problems and no resources are excluded from assistance under the special housing aid for the elderly scheme. [32233/01]
As the Deputy may be aware, the special housing aid scheme for the elderly is operated by the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the Health Boards on behalf of the Department of the Environment and Local Government, which funds it.
The guidelines for the operation of the scheme are determined by a task force which is chaired by an officer of the Department of the Environment and Local Government. That Department has informed my Department that there is no regulation or instruction in relation to this scheme which defines "elderly" as exactly 65 years or over. This is a deliberate policy to allow some flexibility to health boards to grant-aid some persons who might be slightly under the 65 years mark. However, in the final analysis, it is up to each health board to apply the age limit as it considers appropriate.
My Department has also made specific enquiries of the Western Health Board as to how it operates the scheme in its area. The board states that the scheme is designed to provide basic housing repairs for older persons, those 65 years and over, who live alone or with spouse or family who are also elderly. However, persons under 65 years of age are not automatically debarred from the scheme but such applications are only considered where there are extenuating circumstances. Each application is assessed on its merits and, bearing in mind the health of the applicant and if the housing conditions require urgent repairs, it can be deemed eligible. This would apply, in particular, in the case of intellectually disabled people living in the community, who would not be in a position to carry out repairs to their house.
My Department has asked the Western Health Board to send to the Deputy details on the special housing aid scheme for the elderly that is distributed by the board's Mayo community services division.
