Vol. 577 No. 4
292 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government the grants available for elderly people who are living in houses without services, to provide water and sewerage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31673/03]
293 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government if emergency funding is available from his Department to finance the provision of services for elderly people, particularly those in poor health, who have no indoor running water; if not, if emergency funding can be made available to install these services and also funding for staff to assist with these projects, visit these homes, assist with the completion of forms and drawing the necessary plans in consultation with the owners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31674/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 292 and 293 together.
According to the 2002 census of population, out of a total of 391,261 persons aged 65 years and over, usually resident in permanent private households, 1,128 had no water supply and 2,972 had no sewerage facilities. In addition 1,956 persons over 65 had neither facility.
While there is no emergency funding available from my Department to provide for water and sanitary services for elderly homeowners, there are a number of schemes available to assist elderly persons to carry out essential works to their dwellings.
The essential repairs grant, which is operated by local authorities, provides grant aid towards the carrying out of works which are reasonably necessary to prolong the useful life of a dwelling. The special housing aid for the elderly scheme, which is operated by health boards, assists in improving the housing conditions of elderly persons living alone in unfit or unsanitary accommodation. In the interests of elderly persons, the scheme has, since its inception, sought to minimise formal procedural and other requirements. Typically, aid is available for necessary repairs to make a dwelling habitable for the lifetime of the occupant and, in appropriate circumstances, works are carried out at no cost to the applicant.
Those who do not qualify for assistance under the essential repairs grant scheme or the housing aid for the elderly scheme may, if they would otherwise be in need of local authority housing, qualify to have works carried out under the scheme of improvement works in lieu of local authority housing. Alternatively the local authority may be able to provide a house improvement loan. Full details on these options, including application procedures, can be obtained from local authorities.
294 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government if figures are available from his Department regarding the number of elderly people living in houses that have no services, water or sewerage; if not, if his Department can compile such figures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31675/03]
According to the 2002 census of population, out of a total of 391,261 persons aged 65 years and over, usually resident in permanent private households, 1,128 had no water supply and 2,972 had no sewerage facilities. In addition 1,956 persons over 65 had neither facility.
