Chapter 17:11 Older Persons Act as at 15th September 2016 Act 1/2012 (a) conduct inquiries, including public inquiries, into any matter relating to the welfare, care and protection of older persons; (b) appoint committees consisting of such persons, whether or not they are members of the Board, and on such terms and conditions, as the Board may determine with the concurrence of the Minister; (c) vest in or impose on any committee appointed in terms of paragraph (b) such of the functions of the Board as the Board, with the approval of the Minister, may determine; (d) on behalf of the State, engage or make other arrangements with any other person to carry out research for, or supply information or make submissions to, the Board on any matter relating to the well-being, welfare, care and protection of older persons. (3) The Board shall not incur any expenditure on behalf of the State except with the approval of the Minister given with the concurrence of the Minister responsible for finance. 8 Reports of Board (1) The Board⎯ (a) shall submit annual reports to the Minister; and (b) may submit to the Minister such other reports as the Board considers advisable; in regard to any matter relating to the well-being, welfare, care and protection of older persons. (2) The Minister may lay before Parliament a report submitted to him or her by the Board. PART III PUBLIC ASSISTANCE TO OLDER PERSONS 9 Eligibility for social welfare assistance (1) The Director, or any person acting on his or her behalf, may, on application made by or behalf of a destitute or indigent older person, grant social welfare assistance to such person where he or she is satisfied that such person— (a) is handicapped physically or mentally; or (b) suffers continuous ill-health; or (c) is a dependant of a person who is destitute or indigent or incapable of looking after himself or herself; or (d) otherwise has need of social welfare assistance. (2) In determining whether an older person qualifies to receive or to continue receiving social welfare assistance, the Director or any person acting on his or her behalf shall assess— (a) the availability to the applicant and his or her dependants of any assistance, financial or otherwise, from any source; and (b) the suitability of the applicant and his or her dependants for resettlement or rehabilitation; and (c) the state of health, educational level and the level of skills of the applicant for purposes of employment; and (d) any other prospects of the applicant. (3) For the purpose of making his or her decision the Director, or any other person acting on his or behalf, may require the applicant— (a) to furnish such information as is necessary to verify the facts of the application; -6-