Mr. Niall Cody:

Yes, for a house. The maximum is 22.5% of the value of the house at the time the person goes into the nursing home. Once the person dies or leaves the nursing home process, the amount of the loan repayment is fixed by the HSE and referred to us for collection. The HSE has the facility to defer the process if, perhaps, a member of the family is still living in the house. In the period from November 2010, when the first case was referred to us, until March 2018, a total of 5,327 were referred to us at a loan repayment value of €101.6 million. Of those, 3,921 have been finalised, resulting in repayments of €69.8 million. In 632 cases, involving €16.3 million, that have been referred to us the amount is not yet due because there is a year from the date of death until the amount becomes due. These are people who died or left the nursing home within the year. There are 461 cases in which the HSE has advised us it has deferred collection of €7.7 million. In these cases the people involved did not apply for referral. The cases were referred to us for collection but the people involved then went back to the HSE and they had a reason for deferral. We mark them and do not follow them up. In 313 cases, we are looking at a liability of €7.9 million, and that is the debt available in these cases. Obviously it is a sensitive area and we deal with them in a very sensible and safe way. We sent the letter to the committee yesterday.