Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 244: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the payments to date under the long stay charges repayment scheme; and the amount of this that has been lodged to patients' accounts which are administered by Health Service Executive staff on behalf of patients. [35555/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Health Service Executive (HSE) has responsibility for administering the health repayment scheme in conjunction with the appointed scheme administrator KPMG/McCann Fitzgerald. The HSE has informed my Department that since the commencement of the scheme over 33,000 claims have been received and 5,346 payments totalling over €105m have issued. 8,320 offers of repayment, totalling over €160m, have been made.

The HSE have informed me that to date over €56.5m has been lodged to patients private property accounts administered by Health Service Executive staff on behalf of patients.

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 245: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the level of administration fees being charged for the management of patients' funds in bank accounts which are the proceeds of the long stay charges repayment scheme and weekly State or other pensions of the patient; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35556/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Regulations allowing the HSE to impose a charge for the administration of patient property accounts came into effect on 11 September 2007. This administration charge will be used to offset the costs of a central investment unit to invest money held in these accounts with the National Treasury Management Agency and the associated external audit fees. The administration charge will be limited to 25% of interest earned, so the client's principal sum and the majority of the interest earned will not be affected. The service associated with the operation of these accounts locally will continue to be provided without any administration charge. To date the HSE has not raised charges under these Regulations, but it is preparing to do so.