Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 194: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when it is envisaged that repayment of illegal nursing home charges will commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20389/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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It is currently envisaged that repayments will commence shortly after the Health (Repayment Scheme) Bill 2006 is approved and signed into law and an outside company has been appointed to administer the repayment scheme.

The Health (Repayment Scheme) Bill 2006 provides a clear legal framework for a scheme to repay recoverable health charges for publicly funded long term residential care. The Bill was published on 16 March 2006 and committee stage of the Bill was completed in the Dáil on 24 May 2006. Report stage and final stage of the Bill are scheduled to take place on 31 May 2006. It is my wish that the important legislative proposals contained in the Bill have a speedy passage through the Oireachtas prior to the summer recess.

The current public tendering process for the appointment of an outside company is at a very advanced stage and it is expected that a decision on the appointment of a preferred service provider will be made when the Board of the Health Service Executive meet on 1 June 2006. It is anticipated that the company will begin work on the scheme before the end of June 2006.