EUR1.8m For HSE West Under Special Housing Aid For The Elderly Scheme

The grant aid, provided under the Special Housing Aid for the Elderly (SHAE) Scheme, will enable works to be carried out on the homes of thousands of applicants.

The Minister said that the EUR1.8m allocated to HSE West this week was the largest under the Scheme’s allocation for 2009. Elsewhere, EUR700k was allocated to HSE Dublin/North East, and EUR500k was provided to HSE Dublin/Mid Leinster and HSE Southern.

"I was delighted to receive confirmation of the allocation from my Ministerial colleague Michael Finneran, 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.

Since the introduction of the SHAE scheme in 1982 over 85,000 households have had repairs carried out to their homes. Over EUR155m has been provided for the continued operation of the scheme during the last 10 years assisting over 55,000 households in that period.

"The distribution of the latest round of funding throughout the four HSE regions is a matter for the HSE", concluded the Junior Agriculture Minister.

-ENDS-

Notes to Editor:
- For further information please contact Mark Dunphy of Dunphy Public Relations on 00353868534900 or media@dunphypr.com
- High-resolution images of Minister Killeen are available on request