Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 487: To ask the Minister for Health and Children, further to Parliamentary Question No. 85 of 18 June 2009, the position regarding the issues raised; the value of payments made to date; the number of clients or their representatives who have received payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31383/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The first payments of interest previously retained on invested PPP funds by the HSE have now been made to clients in the South East area in respect of funds invested during 2005. To date interest of €60,900 in total was distributed to 1,120 clients.

Clients who have received payments directly to their PPP accounts to date have been provided with individual statements outlining the amount of interest received. The HSE is now seeking to identify the rightful recipients of the remainder of these funds. In many cases clients are either discharged or are deceased. There is a significant administrative task in establishing the present whereabouts of the persons entitled to receive this payment.

The HSE has also commenced a project to facilitate the electronic receipt of Department of Social and Family Affairs allowances on behalf of HSE clients. Such payments will commence later this month. This project is drawing on the same staff resources as those involved in the processing of retained interest payments and was not anticipated earlier in the year. The calculation and processing of returned interest payments will re-commence once the project is complete.