Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 146: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of families compensated under the health repayment scheme to date; the number outstanding; when it is expected that all payments will be made; the reason the problem has taken so long; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2979/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Health Service Executive has responsibility for administering the Repayment Scheme and the information sought by the Deputy relates to matters within the area of responsibility of the Executive.

The HSE has informed my Department that over 36,000 applications for living and deceased patients have been received by the Health Repayment Scheme. To date in excess of 16,500 of the claims received by the Scheme Administrator have been processed, which includes 9,471 offers of repayment totalling more than €180 million.

I have been advised that the Scheme Administrator has given assurances to the HSE that the vast majority of claims submitted by the public will be dealt with within the 2 year time frame allotted for the Scheme which is due to end in June 2008. The HSE has indicated that if there are any outstanding claims at the end of June 2008 such claims will be kept to an absolute minimum and will be dealt with as quickly as possible.

The HSE have informed my Department that the scheme is progressing as speedily as possible and every effort is being made to settle claims as quickly as possible. However, there are a number of different factors which have affected the length of time it takes to process a claim.

A very high number of deficiencies have appeared on claim forms which must be rectified before they can be processed. Over 13,400 estates who have lodged claims to date did not have a grant of representation, as required by law, and the Scheme Administrator has had to establish probate before the claim can be progressed. This is to ensure that the person entitled to claim on behalf of an estate is the person who ultimately receives the repayment. Over 330 HSE facilities around the country have had to be visited by the Scheme Administrator to review and retrieve their records of payment. In some cases, these records dated as far back as 1976. The format in which this information was stored varied widely between institutions and usually included a mixture of paper files, handwritten files and computer files. All of this information had to be scanned and uploaded onto a usable database and this process took over 6 months to complete.

In an effort to address some of the issues mentioned above, the HSE and the Scheme Administrator conducted an intensive national roadshow campaign in nine locations around the country (Dublin, Dundalk, Waterford, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Sligo, Athlone and Cavan) in the run up to the deadline last year. The open days resulted in positive progress in resolving deficiencies and progressing applications.

The HSE have informed my Department that the Scheme Administrator and the HSE continue to work closely together in dealing with issues under the scheme as they arise.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 147: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reason for the delay in making restitution under the health repayment scheme in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; the reason such secrecy currently surrounds the administration of payments to all claimants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2980/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Health Service Executive has responsibility for administering the Repayment Scheme and the information sought by the Deputy relates to matters within the area of responsibility of the Executive.

My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued to the Deputy.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 148: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if and when entitlement to rebate through the national nursing home charges scheme will be ascertained in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2983/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Health Service Executive has responsibility for administering the Repayment Scheme and the information sought by the Deputy relates to matters within the area of responsibility of the Executive.

My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued to the Deputy.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 149: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when moneys outstanding under the health repayment scheme will be awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who completed all further information requests sought by the Health Service Executive in September 2007; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2984/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Health Service Executive has responsibility for administering the Repayment Scheme and the information sought by the Deputy relates to matters within the area of responsibility of the Executive.

My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued to the Deputy.