James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 77: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of applications received under the nursing home repayment scheme; the number of applicants issued offers to date; the number which have appeals made by the scheme; the number of appeals decided; the number of appeals which have received an increased offer; the number of appeals officers employed by the scheme; the number of payments made to date; the cost of same; the number of applications to be decided upon; the average waiting time to process an application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34569/08]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 78: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the cost of administering the nursing home repayments scheme; when the nursing home repayment scheme will complete its work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34570/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 77 and 78 together.

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 HSE has informed my Department that since the commencement of the scheme approximately 39,000 claims have been received and it is estimated that following adjustments for rejections and duplicate claims, the number of valid claims will be approximately 19,300. To date 18,300 claimants have received offers of repayment totalling over €342m and in excess of 13,700 payments have been made totalling over €285m. The HSE anticipates that the remaining claims will be processed by the end of November. However, it should be noted that any offers made in November cannot be paid until the statutory 28 day period allowed for appeals has elapsed and a completed acceptance form has been returned to the Scheme Administrator. Any claim that is appealed will be finalised following a determination by the Appeals Office.

The overall cost of the scheme is expected to be in the region of €390m. The total cost of administering the scheme to date is €19.5m which includes payments to the Scheme Administrator, HSE administrative costs, legal fees and probate costs and the administrative costs of the Appeals Office.

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. Two Appeals Officers have been appointed to consider appeals. Up to 10 October 2008 the Health Repayment Scheme Appeals Office had received 4,241 completed appeal forms. The Appeals Officers have issued decisions in 2,266 of these cases. 407 of these decisions will result in an amended offer to the claimant.