Ireland's Minister for Housing has announced €7m in Housing Aid for the Elderly.

The additional funding for the Health Service Executive for 2007 is being allocated by the Task Force on Special Housing Aid for the Elderly, under the aegis of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, announced the Minister for Housing, Urban Renewal and Developing Areas Michael O'Keeffe.

This second allocation of funding is being made available for the carrying out of essential repairs to houses occupied by elderly persons living on their own under the Special Housing Aid for the Elderly scheme.

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Minister O'Keeffe said:"This scheme continues to aid improvements to the living conditions of the elderly, enabling them to live comfortably in their own homes and communities for as long as possible. This additional funding brings the total allocated to the scheme so far in 2007 to €19.132m with up to 3,700 households assisted in the first six months of this year."

Announcing the additional funding the Minister said that he was delighted with the effectiveness of the scheme in helping elderly people to live in their own homes. Since it's introduction in 1982 to June 2007 almost 76,000 households have had repairs carried out to their homes under the scheme.

Over €137m has been provided for the scheme during the last 10 years.

(GK/SP)