Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 480: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when the interest on long stay accounts which was withheld by the Health Service Executive will be awarded to patients; the amount awarded to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30174/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Department has been advised by the Health Service Executive (HSE) that it is progressing with the task of transferring past interest retained on invested patient private property accounts and a process to undertake this transfer, initially for the period 2005-2006 has been agreed. The HSE has advised that the issue of tax liability for clients in receipt of such payments has now been clarified by the Revenue Commissioners and that the refund will not give rise to any tax implications for either the individual client or the HSE.

The HSE advises that initial testing of the computer programme to calculate payments to clients is now complete and that the validation of data on details of clients and their patient private property account balances for the first planned tranche of payments is also complete.

The HSE also advises that the final proposal on the process and rules around making payments is currently being completed. Proposals on a number of key issues have been considered, including dealing with very small payment amounts, situations where it is not possible to locate the person entitled to receive the payment and situations where complete information is not available. Final agreement on these processes will then allow completion of the proposal for payment of interest retained pre 2005.