Written answers

Wednesday, 14 May 2008

Department of Health and Children

Nursing Homes Repayment Scheme

9:00 pm

Photo of James ReillyJames Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 157: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of applications made to the nursing home repayments scheme; the number of payments made; the number of awards that have been appealed; the current backlog in dealing with appeals; the number of appeals officers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18898/08]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary 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 and McCann Fitzgerald. The HSE has advised my Department that as of the 2 May 2008 approximately 39,000 applications have been received under the health repayment scheme and 9,796 payments have issued.

As of 2 May, 11,108 claimants are deemed to be outside the scope of the repayment scheme and of these, 2,285 have appealed the decision of the scheme administrator. 13,578 offers of payment have issued under the scheme and of these, 650 have appealed the amount offered. A total of 2,935 appeals have been lodged, which represents approximately 12% of processed claims. As of 9 May the appeals officer has considered 1,293 appeals.

Following the establishment of the appeals office a temporary appeals officer was seconded from the Chief State Solicitor's Office. Subsequently, a recruitment process was undertaken by the Public Appointments Service and a panel of appeal officers has been established. A second appeals officer is due to begin work shortly.

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