Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 December 2022
267. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he has received the audit of TAPS payments undertaken by both the NTPF and the HSE; if so, if he will publish the audit in full; if the audit is not completed when he expects to receive the report and publish same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62520/22]
View answerThe Government has provided substantial supports to the nursing home sector over the course of the pandemic. Over €145 million has been claimed by nursing homes under the Temporary Assistance Payment Scheme (TAPS) since its introduction in 2020. The Government has now agreed to extend TAPS to the end of the year by maintaining the availability of Outbreak Assistance support.
A robust control framework was put in place for the Temporary Assistance Payment Scheme, including requirements for validation, review of claims by an external accountancy firm, and provision for all claims to be audited and any misallocated funds clawed back for up to six years following. The thresholds also provided a strong control on costs.
Claims to the scheme were administered by the NTPF (National Treatment Purchase Fund). An external audit has been carried out on behalf of the NTPF for the majority of the period during which TAPS has been operating.
Private and voluntary nursing homes also received a substantial package of non-financial assistance throughout the pandemic, including the provision of almost € 72m of PPE, staff accommodation, training, COVID Response Teams and more. Many of these supports continue.
As previously advised, the NTPF and the HSE are currently undertaking an audit of payments and a report will be published when this audit is finalised.
