My Department is studying the Supreme Court decision on the repayment of charges for publicly-funded, long-term residential care in detail and will take on board all the consequences arising from the judgment for policy and law. A special Cabinet sub-committee comprising the Taoiseach, the Minister for Finance, Deputy Cowen, the Attorney General, Mr. Brady, and me has been established to consider the issue of repayment in light of the judgment. Full details of a repayment scheme will be announced as soon as possible. It is intended to make the repayments mechanism is as automatic as possible.
Any person who considers that he or she or a family member may be eligible for repayment may register interest in advance with the Health Service Executive by writing to the national refund scheme, HSE Midland Area, Arden Road, Tullamore, County Offaly. Interest can also be registered by emailing refundscheme@mailq.hse.ie or by calling the help line 1800 777737 during office hours.