Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 302: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of claims, fully processed but not awarded under the health repayment scheme on a county basis in tabular form; and when these claims will be awarded. [15521/09]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 306: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of claims pursuant to a scheme (details supplied) that are outstanding; and the reason they are not being finalised and awarded. [15526/09]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 326: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if all applications made under a scheme (details supplied) have been finalised; and is she will provide this Deputy with a full and complete breakdown of the cost of this scheme to date. [15736/09]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 327: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if a scheme pursuant to an Act (details supplied) is near completion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15737/09]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 328: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the initial timeframe for a scheme (details supplied); and the estimated timeframe for completion of this scheme. [15738/09]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 329: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reason there are cases outstanding under a scheme (details supplied) in view of the length of time the cases are being dealt with. [15739/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 302, 306 and 326 to 329, inclusive, together.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has responsibility for administering the health repayment scheme in conjunction with the appointed Scheme Administrator KPMG/McCann Fitzgerald.

The scheme was launched in August 2006 and it was envisaged that the timeframe for the scheme would be 2/3 years. Since the commencement of the scheme approximately 35,000 applications have been received by the Scheme Administrator. To date 33,600 applicants have now either received an offer of repayment or have had their application rejected. As a result, there are in the region of 1,400 claims to be processed and it is anticipated the vast majority of these claims will be processed over the coming weeks. It should be noted that repayments offered cannot be paid until the statutory 28 day period for appeal has elapsed and a completed acceptance form has been returned to the Scheme Administrator. In addition, claimants who receive offers must be given the opportunity if they so wish, to appeal the Scheme Administrator's decision.

The Scheme is progressing as speedily as possible and every effort is being made to settle the remaining claims as quickly as possible. However, there are a number of different factors which have affected the length of time it takes to process a claim. A very high number of deficiencies have appeared on claim forms which must each be rectified before they can be processed. Over 13,500 estates who have lodged claims to date did not have a grant of representation, as required by law, and the Scheme Administrator has had to establish probate before the claim can be progressed. All relevant facilities around the country have had to be visited to review and retrieve their records of payment. The format in which this information was stored varied widely between institutions and usually included a mixture of paper files, handwritten files and computer files.

In regard to the cost of the scheme, a total of €393.7m has been expended to date on the Health Repayment Scheme and a breakdown of the costs is as follows: Repayments to 31st March 2009 - €371.7m Overheads 2006 €3.0m Overheads 2007 €5.0m Overheads 2008 €14.0m Total Expenditure €393.7m

The number of claims fully processed but not yet awarded are as follows: