Written answers

Thursday, 26 February 2009

Department of Health and Children

Patient Private Property Fund

5:00 pm

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 95: To ask the Minister for Health and Children, further to Parliamentary Question No. 409 of 27 January 2009, the position regarding the issue of interest owing to long-stay patients; when repayment will commence; the cost of the administration of this repayment programme; the moneys to be repaid; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8125/09]

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 96: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the funding held by the Health Service Executive on behalf of long-stay patients; the charges placed on the management of this fund; the income generated from the fund in 2008; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8126/09]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 95 and 96 together.

The HSE plans to commence the payment of interest retained on funds invested since 2005 in the next number of weeks. All interest to be repaid since 2005 is retained in the Patient Private Property Fund as unallocated income and is available for distribution. The HSE is currently reviewing the cost implications of making these payments. The HSE is also finalising a proposal to repay any interest owed as a result of interest retained by former Health Boards prior to 2005. While retained interest in respect of some of this period is in the PPP fund, the cost implications of any proposal are also being reviewed. When agreed, the HSE will then be in a position to commence making any necessary repayments.

The 2008 National PPP accounts are currently being prepared and audited. When complete these accounts will be laid before the Oireachtas. As at 31st December 2007 the HSE managed €153.3m in PPP funds on behalf of clients. It is expected that the value of PPP funds held at 31st December 2008 will be approx. €200m. The HSE levies a charge for the operation of the PPP accounts maintained at the PPPA Central Unit, Tullamore. The charge commenced in November 2008. The charge is set at 20% of interest earned on invested funds and is levied weekly in arrears. The HSE's authority to levy this charge is derived from the introduction of the Health (Repayment Scheme) (Charges for administering Patients' Private Property Accounts) Regulations 2007. There is no charge for any PPP accounts held locally at Care Centres. The total charge levied in 2008 amounted to €133,037.

During 2008, interest of €4.167m was earned on invested PPP funds managed by the PPPA Central Unit. This interest is assigned directly to client PPP accounts each week. Audited figures for interest earned on other invested PPP funds during 2008 are not yet available. During 2007, total interest of €4.612m was earned on behalf of clients.

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