Mr. Stephen Mulvany:

This is complex. We have used the expression "to the entitled next of kin", but the more correct legal term is "to the legal personal representatives". That is the person we must seek. In the case of a ward of court who is alive, the money will be put into his or her patient private property account. The wards of court office has the usual supervisory role. Often, a committee of the ward involves family members. I will have to check the details, but if the ward of court is deceased, we will either repay the money to the wards of court office or, through it, the Chief State Solicitor's office. In no case does the HSE keep the money indefinitely.