John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 467: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of current nursing home residents who are entitled to repayments under the national repayments scheme; the number of applications for repayments received to date; the number of claims that have been processed; when she expects all claims to be processed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14933/07]

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 468: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the procedure for repaying current nursing home residents who are entitled to repayments under the national repayments scheme; if the repayments will be repaid directly to the claimants; if the families of claimants will be kept informed of progress; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14934/07]

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 469: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of deceased nursing home residents who are entitled to repayments under the national repayments scheme; the number of applications for repayments received to date; when processing of these claims will begin; when she expects all claims to be processed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14935/07]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 476: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of claims for the repayment of nursing home charges received to date; the number of claims awaiting verification; the estimated numbers that have been verified and are awaiting payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15027/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 467 to 469, inclusive, and 476 together.

The HSE have advised me that since the commencement of the health repayment scheme eight months ago and the launch of a nationwide information campaign, almost 2,200 repayments offers have been made, totalling almost €46 million, and further offers continue to be issued every week.

To date, nearly 130,000 claim forms have been distributed through Post Offices and other locations, there have been almost 28,000 visits to the website www.repay.ie and the information line has dealt with over 42,000 queries.

The scheme is the largest of its kind ever to occur in Ireland and is progressing as speedily as possible. The HSE have advised me that it is not possible to state at what point all applications will be fully processed and all due repayments awarded to applicants given that the scheme extends to an estimated 70,000 persons (living and deceased) and the last date for receipt of claim forms is currently 31st December 2007.

To date, over 26,000 applications for repayment have been received and priority has been given to repaying living applicants. There have been over 16,000 claims in respect of deceased persons and over 10,000 in respect of living persons. The bulk of repayments to the estates of the deceased persons are expected to commence shortly.

Over 12,000 estates who have lodged claims to date do not have a grant of representation, as required by law, and must establish entitlement to claim before the application can progress. This is to ensure that the person who is entitled to claim on behalf of an estate is the one who receives the repayment.

The HSE have indicated that of these 12,000 estates that have lodged claims, direct personal contact has been made with over 9,000 of these claimants who have applied for certificate of entitlements.

The scheme includes necessary safeguards to ensure that people are paid the full amount they are owed and that the correct people are paid. In tandem with receiving and processing forms, it has been necessary for the scheme administrator to visit all relevant HSE facilities — over 340 in total — to review and retrieve their records of payment and, in some cases, this could be as far back as 1976. The records in which this information is held vary widely between institutions and usually includes a mixture of paper files, handwritten files and computer files. To date, the records of over 95% of institutions have been scanned.

Under Data Protection Legislation third parties cannot be given personal information pertaining to individual claims. The claimant themselves can only make enquiries concerning their own applications. This information can be obtained by ringing the helpline number 1890 886 886. Each applicant that submits an application form is sent an acknowledgement letter within days. Offer letters are sent out when the claim form is matched with the information from the correct institution.

The HSE have advised that once the claimant accepts the repayment offer and the statutory waiting period of 28 days has elapsed, they will make the repayment in the manner chosen by the claimant. Options include direct payment to a bank, building society, credit union or post office account, payment by cheque or lodgement to a patient's private property account.