Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 128: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her views on whether it is acceptable that public representatives are unable to obtain information from her Department or from the Health Service Executive with regard to dates of repayments for applicants for the repayment of nursing homes fees; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the repayment scheme does not deal with e-mail or written queries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41378/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Health (Repayment Scheme) Act, 2006 came into effect on 30 June 2006. The Health Service Executive (HSE) has responsibility for administering the scheme. Accordingly, all queries relating to the operation of the scheme are referred to the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive for investigation and direct reply.

The HSE has advised the Department that the Scheme Administrator has recently issued correspondence to all public representatives informing them that a facility has been put in place to make enquiries apart from the information phone line which is in place to assist the general public. As well as direct communication the Scheme Administrator is also working with bodies such as the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the HSE and Regional Health Forums to ensure public representatives are kept up to date about the scheme and its progress.

The HSE has also advised the Department that written queries received are dealt with by the Scheme Administrator and that there is no e-mail facility available. Queries can also be directed to the Health Repayment Scheme helpline 1890 886 886.

In relation to dates of repayments to applicants, the HSE has informed the Department that over 21,000 forms have been submitted to the scheme administrator applying for repayments and these applications are being processed at present. The timeframe for repayment is predicated primarily on whether the applicant is alive or whether the application is being made by the estate of a deceased person. Living people who were wrongly charged will be the first to receive payments under the scheme. It is estimated that there are now in the region of 15,000 people within this category.