Vol. 518 No. 6
270 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children if certain health boards (details supplied) seek a contribution from the applicant for works approved under the special housing aid for the elderly scheme; and if so, the details of the portion contribution requested. [12339/00]
As the Deputy is aware, the housing aid scheme for the elderly is administered by the health boards on behalf of the Department of the Environment and Local Government. Guidelines for the operation of the scheme are determined by a task force which is chaired by an official of that Department and the following is the text of guideline No. 8 which addresses the issue the Deputy raises:
It is desirable that applicants who can afford to do so, should make contributions towards the cost of works being undertaken by the boards. Such contributions should not, however, be a condition of eligibility and should never exceed what the applicant agrees he/she can afford.
The information sought in the question is not readily available in my Department and I have asked the chief executive officers of the respective health boards and the Eastern Regional Health Authority to respond directly to the Deputy.
