Deirdre Clune
Ceist:407 Ms Clune asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the provisions or proposals, if any, he will introduce to mark the UN year of the elderly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10170/99]
Written Answers. - UN Year of the Elderly.
I have made a number of significantly increased provisions and improvements to schemes in 1999 which will benefit the elderly as follows: the provision for the Special Task Force for the Elderly has been increased to £6 million which is the highest provision ever since the scheme commenced in 1982; the maximum essential repairs grant has been increased from £1,800 to £4,500 and is being extended to urban areas; and the 1999 Estimates provide for a 20 per cent increase in the provision of local authority and social housing bringing the total provision to over £269 million and a significant element within the increased programmes will cater for the needs of the elderly.