Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 56: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the nursing home repayment scheme; if she is satisfied that information provided to recipients and their families is adequate; the amount repaid to date; the estimated total of repayments; the estimated date of final repayments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12002/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The health repayment scheme was launched in August 2006 and is administered by the Health Service Executive (HSE) in conjunction with the appointed Scheme Administrator KPMG/McCann Fitzgerald.

In relation to repayments to applicants, the HSE has informed the Department that over 26,400 application forms have been submitted to the scheme administrator 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 are being prioritised for payment under the scheme.

The HSE has estimated that there are now in the region of 14,000 people within this category. A dedicated website, www.repay.ie, an information phone line 1890 886 886 and an e-mail facility queries@repay.ie have been established by the scheme administrator to assist the public in accessing claim forms and general information on the scheme. The information line operates between the hours of 9.00 am and 6.00 p.m. from Monday to Friday. Queries in relation to individual applications should be referred to the scheme administrator. The HSE has indicated that the total cost of the repayment scheme will be approximately €1 billion. The Department of Finance has earmarked funding of €360 million for 2007. The cost of total repayments made under the scheme will be dependent on the number of applications received.

Offers of repayment commenced in late 2006 and over 1,100 payments have already issued with further payments continuing on an ongoing basis. The HSE has indicated that approximately €24 million has been repaid to date. It is expected that the bulk of payments to estates will commence later in the year. Provision has been made for applications to be received up to 1 January 2008. It is anticipated that the majority of repayments will be made by mid-2008.

It should be noted that under Data Protection legislation information relating to individual claims cannot be provided to third parties and in this regard, all enquiries in relation to individual claims should be made by the applicant concerned.