John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 151: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the eligibility criteria with regard to the refund of €2,000 for hospital charges for the elderly; the avenues which are open for families of next of kin to seek payment in respect of persons who are deceased; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4479/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The category of person who will receive refunds under the ex gratia scheme in respect of payments deducted from them for publicly funded long stay care in facilities run by former health boards or private nursing homes, solely by virtue of a contractual arrangement with a former health board, comprises fully eligible persons, including those who had their medical card withdrawn on admission to the institution, who were alive on 9 December 2004. Those qualifying under the scheme will be paid up to €2,000 if they have already paid up to that amount by way of charges. Where persons have been charged anything less than €2000, they will be refunded the amount they have paid.

The scheme does not apply in the case of persons who were in long stay care in the institutions in question but who died before 9 December 2004. If, however, individuals concerned died on or after this date, payments will be made to the executor or person who has taken out the grant of administration in respect of the individual who has died.