Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 256: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reason the administrators of the nursing home refund scheme have refused repayments for periods when patients resided in a contract bed in private homes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19872/08]

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 K.P.M.G. and McCann Fitzgerald. The Health (Repayment Scheme) Act 2006 provides a clear legal framework to repay recoverable health charges for publicly funded long term residential care including contract beds in private homes. Recoverable health charges are charges which were imposed on persons with full eligibility under the Health (Charges for In-patient Services) Regulations 1976 as amended in 1987 or charges for in-patient services only, raised under the Institutional Assistance Regulations 1954 as amended in 1965. A patient may have occupied a contract bed in a private home but may not have paid any recoverable health charges and would therefore not be due a repayment. The Act provides an independent appeals process whereby applicants can appeal the decision of the scheme administrator.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 257: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of staff in the appeals office reviewing the decision of the scheme administrator of the nursing home refund scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19873/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Health Repayment Scheme Appeals Office is an independent office established to provide an appeals service to those who wish to appeal the decision of the Scheme Administrator under the Health (Repayment Scheme) Act 2006. 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. In addition, four administrative staff support the work of the appeals officer.