Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 678: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reasons claimants under the scheme to repay charges for publicly funded long stay beds are given the option of donating some or all of this money; the use to which this money will be put; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that some claimants are annoyed by this provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28808/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The purpose of the donation fund is to allow for patients or family members who are satisfied with the care which was provided for a patient's long term care and wish to surrender all or part of a repayment to help those less fortunate. Any donations made under this provision are completely voluntary.

Section 11 of the Health (Repayment Scheme) Act 2006 allows the Health Service Executive to establish a donation fund to enable those due a repayment, or anyone who wishes to do so, to donate money which will be used specifically for improvements in the public health services for elderly persons and persons with disabilities, the costs of which are non-recurring. All such donations will be exempt from capital acquisition tax and any probate tax liability.

The fund will be monitored and audited to ensure that the money is used appropriately and for the purposes for which it was intended. Reports on the operation of this fund will also be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas.