Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 156: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of appeals received each year since its inception by her Department or its acting agency in relation to payments of the health repayment scheme for persons who were in long-term care; if there is a waiting list; if so, the number awaiting a decision; the number of personnel actually dealing with such appeals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24882/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

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. My Department has been advised by the Appeals Office that up to the 13th June 2008, 3,359 completed appeal forms have been received. 1,206 of these completed appeal forms were received in 2007 and 2,153 completed appeal forms have been received in 2008.

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.

The appeals officer must investigate each appeal independently, his investigations can require additional reviews by the Health Service Executive and the Scheme Administrator and certain appeals present a high level of complexity. In addition a very high percentage of appellants have requested an Oral Hearing and, up to the 13th June 2008, the appeals officer has completed 555 Oral Hearings at locations around the country. The appeals officer has carefully and thoroughly considered and assessed 1,612 appeals and he has issued decisions to each of these appellants. Taking the 193 appeals which have been withdrawn into account the Health Repayment Scheme Appeals Office currently has 1,554 appeals awaiting a decision.