Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 467: To ask the Minister for Health in view of recent court decisions, if he intends to change the way patients' private property accounts are operated to give individuals concerned direct access to their own moneys; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6228/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Patient Private Property Accounts (PPPAs) are governed by Section 9 of the Health (Repayment Scheme) Act 2006. Their operation is subject to the HSE's National Patients' Private Property Guidelines which set out the procedures to be followed in operating all PPPAs. A fundamental concept underpinning the guidelines is that all funds held in PPPAs belong to the client and to no other person or body, including the HSE. I am not aware of any difficulty in relation to individual PPPA holders having access to and effective control of monies in their accounts, where they have the mental capacity to exercise such control.

Where monies have been lodged to a PPPA, and where the patient concerned lacks capacity, the HSE ensures that this money is used only for the benefit of the patient in accordance with the National Guidelines. The HSE is always happy to involve interested family members in the management of each patient's finances, so as to ensure that the patient's available funds are used to best effect in providing benefit to the patient concerned.