Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)

Might we have an explanation for the delay on the nursing home repayments scheme? The information was with the Minister a year ago that the charges were illegal, and it seems extraordinary that it has taken so long. Can the Minister report to us why the delay has been so lengthy?

Since the Minister is so concerned about the taxpayer losing up to €56 million in fines, has the Minister yet discovered where it went in HSE spending? The Minister for Finance, Deputy Cowen, initially told the House the money had been transferred from capital to revenue. The next day the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, came in and said it was not so but that she did not know where it was. That was a few weeks ago. Has the Minister found the money yet, and does the Minister for Finance intend introducing a Supplementary Estimate? What has happened to that taxpayers' money?

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