Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Question 87: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if people with an intellectual disability will be exempted from the increased long-stay residential charges which will require them to pay up to 75% of their disability allowance on these charges; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43266/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Health (Charges for In-Patient Services) Regulations 2005 have provided for two different classes of person for the purpose of levying a charge.

Class 1.

Class 1 refers to persons in receipt of in-patient services on premises where nursing care is provided on a 24 hour basis on those premises. The new rate of charges for Class 1 will be a weekly charge of €153.25 or the weekly income of that person less €44.70 whichever is the lesser.

Class 2.

Class 2 refers to persons in receipt of in-patient services where nursing care is not provided on a 24 hour basis on those premises. The new rate of charges for class 2 will be a weekly charge of €114.95 or the weekly income of that person less €70.25 or 60% of the weekly income of that person whichever is the lesser.

These rates provide for the maximum charge to be levied and the Health Service Executive (HSE) has the power to reduce or waive a charge on the basis of "undue hardship". The HSE will determine the charge to be levied in each particular situation depending on individual circumstances and the type of service being provided. The new rates will come into effect on 1 January 2009 and reflect the increase in the Non-Contributory State Pension between 2005 and 2008.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 88: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when full arrears of disabled person's maintenance allowance will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43271/08]

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued to the Deputy.