asked the Minister for Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the recommendations made in regard to the welfare of old people by the Chairman of the Irish Red Cross Association on 5th May last; and if he will put into practice such of these recommendations as fall within the scope of his Department.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Welfare of Old People.
19.
I have seen newspaper reports of the recommendations to which the Deputy refers. As regards housing accommodation for old people, housing authorities have been asked from time to time to include in their housing schemes a reasonable number of small dwellings of suitable design to meet the needs of small families, particularly old people and a substantial number of these dwellings have already been provided. The new assessment of housing needs which I propose to require them to make will show the number of dwellings which they will need to provide for elderly persons in their expanded building programmes. It is also intended to enable subsidy up to the higher rate of 66.2/3 per cent of loan charges to be paid for the housing of elderly persons.
Apart from local authority action, State grants of £300 per dwelling are available under the Housing (Loans and Grants) Act, 1962, to bodies providing housing accommodation for elderly persons. Some philanthropic bodies have already carried out schemes with the aid of these grants and there is reason to expect further progress by the active participation of others.
20.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his attention has been drawn to the recommendations made in regard to the welfare of old people by the Chairman of the Irish Red Cross Association on 5th May last; and if he will put into practice such of these recommendations as fall within the scope of his Department, in particular, the recommendations that further financial help should be given to the old.
I have seen newspaper reports of the recommendations in question. The only one which relates directly to my Department is that recommending further financial help for the old and the Budget statement of the Minister for Finance has set out the intentions of the Government in that respect.