Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

This money must be paid in accordance with the law enacted by the Oireachtas. We must ensure, in the first instance, that the correct people are paid their money. We do not want a family member or distant relative who may never have visited the old person getting money that somebody else may be entitled to. There is no doubt that it is a very complex legal process but this is necessary because of the law.

With regard to the scheme, we appointed at the beginning an oversight group representative of various groups advocating older people. Ms Sylvia Meehan is on it, for example, and it is chaired by Bernard Walsh, a geriatrician in St. James's Hospital. They oversee this and have given me three reports. I know they remain very satisfied and confident in the manner in which this scheme is being executed. The purpose is to get money to the right people as quickly as possible.

As I indicated in my initial reply, the HSE has told me that by the end of June, all the applications will have been processed and determinations will be made. We expect to finish it during this calendar year and do not envisage it going to 2009. I am delighted this is the case.

Sometimes, as a result of what we are dealing with, people who make the applications pass away. We are dealing with very old people in residential care who may have been there for some time. Many issues arise but the administrator and the HSE have operated this scheme very professionally and thoroughly. Unfortunately, when legal letters are sent to individuals, particularly older people, I accept they can be intimidating. Every effort is made to talk to people and I understand approximately 800 people were spoken to by telephone about their applications. For example, different parts of the form may have been filled out that were not required or were inaccurate. Every effort is made to deal with these people in as human a way as possible, particularly where older people are concerned.

See this speech in context