Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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665. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to utilise the €50 million savings on the temporary risk equalisation scheme; if he will allocate some of these savings to mental health services to make up the deficit in funding for these services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9235/14]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Interim Scheme of Age-Related Tax Credits and Health Insurance Levy was in operation from 2009-2012. Under the scheme age related tax credits were provided at source in respect of qualifying members. These credits were funded by a community rating levy paid by insurers on all health insurance contracts effected or renewed until the scheme ended on 31 December 2012. The final levy payment was paid in January 2013 and tax credits continued to be paid out until the end of December 2013, in respect of insurance premia paid by instalments.

The issue of any surplus arising from the scheme has been raised by officials in my Department with the Department of Finance. Final figures will be to hand in the next few weeks and I will consider the most appropriate use of any available surplus at that stage.