EUR5M For HSE West Under Special Housing Aid for the Elderly Scheme

The Minister said that amount was the largest allocated under the 2008 Special Housing Aid for the Elderly (SHAE) Scheme. The remaining allocations include EUR3M for HSE Dublin/North East, EUR2m for HSE Dublin/Mid Leinster and EUR3M for HSE Southern.

"I was delighted to receive confirmation of the allocation from my Ministerial colleague Mr. Batt O’Keeffe, T.D., Minister for Housing, Urban Renewal and Developing Areas. The funding under the scheme allows for work to be carried out in homes at a minimal cost to the State, allowing older people to live in their own homes for longer, which is what this Government wants to encourage as much as possible", explained Minister Killeen.

He continued, "The Minister also informed me that he remains committed to ensuring that the needs of the elderly are not compromised in any way during the transfer of the SHAE Scheme to the local authority sector. It has been agreed with the HSE that the SHAE will continue to operate, and be administered by the HSE, until such a time as all outstanding issues arising from the transfer are fully and satisfactorily resolved."

Since the introduction of the scheme in 1982 almost 79,000 households have had repairs carried out to their homes. Over the last 10 years the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has provided almost EUR145m for the continued operation of the scheme.

According to Minister Killeen, "In 2007 the total allocated to this scheme amounted to over EUR19.1m with close to 6,700 households assisted. By continuing to operate the scheme in its current format, for a further period of time, we will safeguard the needs of this vulnerable group."

-ENDS-

Notes to Editor:
- Tony Killeen T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Environment Heritage and Local Government and Communication Energy and Natural Resources with special responsibility for Environment and Energy, is available for interview and further comment on 0035387-2525304. Alternatively please contact Mark Dunphy of Dunphy Public Relations on 00353868534900 or media@dunphypr.com
- High-resolution images of Minister Killeen are available on request

Mark Dunphy
Dunphy Public Relations
www.dunphypr.com
00353-868534900 (mobile)
00353-656839692 (fax)