James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

I am impressed that a single appeals officer has been able to deal with so many appeals. If that sort of productivity existed throughout the health service, we would be doing extremely well.

It is extraordinary that KPMG has been paid €23 million — €15 million exclusive of VAT — to administer the scheme. Some 70,000 claims were expected, 39,000 were lodged and 14,000 have been settled and it is hoped that the matter will be dealt with in its entirety in the near future.

People feel bamboozled and intimidated. When they appeal, it becomes clear to them that the process is not about fairness but instead revolves around saving money. That money was taken from the elderly illegally and now these people are being thwarted, in their later years, from obtaining justice. Some 12% of processed claims have been appeals and only 25% of the appeals lodged and considered to date in respect of these claims have been successful. A further 10% of applicants whose claims rejected were subsequently judged to be entitled to payment.

It is clear that a great deal of activity is being focused on preventing people from recouping what is rightly theirs. Despite the fact that 130,000 people work for the HSE, KPMG is being paid €23 million to administer the scheme. When people undergo the claims process and are obliged to appeal, they discover that there is only one appeals officer. The Minister indicated that a recruitment process has been completed, that a panel has been established and that a second appeals officer will be appointed shortly.

What is happening is nothing short of scandalous. What sort of message is being sent to the elderly? Having being short-changed by the State, the latter is now doing everything in its power to obstruct them from obtaining what is rightfully theirs. Will the Minister indicate the number of appeal officers she intends to have in place by the end of the month so that this major issue might be dealt with?

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