Gay Mitchell (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 118: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children further to Question No. 154 of 22 June 1999, the refund which will issue to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16207/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Government has agreed the key elements of a scheme for the repayment of long stay charges for publicly funded residential care. All those who were charged and are alive and the estates of all those who were charged and died in the six years prior to 9 December 2004 will have the charges repaid in full. The scheme will not allow for repayments to the estates of those who died more than six years ago. The repayments will include both the actual charge paid and an amount to take account of inflation using the consumer price index since the time the person involved was charged. Legislation will be brought before the Oireachtas as soon as possible to provide a clear legal framework for the scheme.

The scheme will be designed and managed with the aim of ensuring that those who are eligible for repayments receive them as soon as possible and with the minimum possible imposition in terms of bureaucracy. Priority will be given to those who are still alive. Many of those eligible for repayments have already been identified under the ex gratia payments process. The scheme will include a transparent and thorough appeals process. In the case of those who were charged and are still alive, the repayments will be exempt from tax and will not be taken into account in assessing means for health and social welfare benefits. The normal tax and means assessment arrangements will apply to those who benefit from repayments to estates.

The scheme will include a provision to allow those eligible for a repayment to waive their right to a repayment and have the money assigned to fund once-off service improvements in elderly, mental health and disability services. Any person who considers that he, she or a family member may be eligible for repayment may register an interest in advance with the Health Service Executive by writing to the National Refund Scheme, HSE Midland Area, Arden Road, Tullamore, County Offaly; e-mailing refundscheme@mailq.hse.ie, or calling the helpline 1800 777737 during office hours. There is no need for anyone who has already registered using this facility to make contact with the HSE again to register for the scheme.