Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 117: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when she expects a scheme (details supplied) pursuant to an Act to be finalised. [31622/08]

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 KPMG/McCann Fitzgerald.

The HSE has advised my Department that as of 19th September 38,859 claim forms have been received under the Health Repayment Scheme. It is estimated that following adjustments for rejections and duplicate claims, the number of valid claims will be approximately 19,300. 17,684 claimants have received an offer of repayment and it is anticipated that the remaining offers will be processed by the end of November 2008. However it should be noted that the repayments offered in November cannot be paid until the statutory 28 day period has elapsed.

In addition claimants who receive offers in November must be given the opportunity to appeal the decision. The Appeals Officers must investigate each appeal independently, these investigations can require additional reviews by the Health Service Executive and the Scheme Administrator and certain appeals present a high level of complexity. This may influence the finalisation of the Health Repayment Scheme.