Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 15 Oct 1997

Vol. 481 No. 5

Written Answers - Grant Aid.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

95 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the reason it is taking months for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo to get her application for the special housing aid for the elderly scheme approved in view of the fact that she has put plastic over the porchway of her home to prevent the rain coming in; the way in which this could be allowed to happen; and the reason the health board has not replied to this woman. [16554/97]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Molloy)

The scheme of special housing aid for the elderly, to which this case relates, is administered under the aegis of my Department by a task force representative of Government Departments, local authorities and other statutory and voluntary bodies. Decisions to grant assistance in individual cases are the responsibility of the health boards which operate the scheme at local level and, accordingly, my Department would not have information on a particular case.

However, I understand from the Western Health Board that they hope to be shortly in a position to make a decision in this case following consideration by Mayo County Council of an application from this person for assistance under the essential repair grant scheme.