Nursing Homes Repayment Scheme.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 January 2009

Tuesday, 27 January 2009

Ceisteanna (369, 370, 371, 372, 373)

Michael Ring

Ceist:

436 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children the rate of interest that has to be paid to a claimant in the event of a successful claim in relation to a scheme (details supplied). [1492/09]

Michael Ring

Ceist:

438 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of claims, fully processed but not yet paid under the health repayment scheme, giving details on a county basis; and when these claims will be paid. [1494/09]

Michael Ring

Ceist:

439 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of claims pursuant to a scheme (details supplied) that are outstanding; and the reasons they are not being finalised and paid. [1495/09]

Michael Ring

Ceist:

440 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children if a scheme (details supplied) has completely finalised all applications made under it; if she will provide this Deputy with a full and complete breakdown of the cost of this scheme. [1496/09]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 436, 438, 439 and 440 together.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has responsibility for administering the health repayment scheme in conjunction with the appointed Scheme Administrator K.P.M.G. and McCann Fitzgerald. The rate of interest payable under the Health Repayment Scheme is the rate of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) as per the Health (Interest Payable on Recoverable Health Charges) Regulations 2006. The CPI rates are prepared on a monthly basis.

There are approximately 2,000 claims or 5% of total claims remaining to be finalised under the Health Repayment Scheme. These claims have not yet been concluded for a variety of reasons including claim form deficiencies, legal/probate issues, appeals and the statutory 28 day appeal period, entitlement issues and difficult or complex cases. The Scheme Administrator continues to work closely with the HSE to finalise these claims and expects that the vast majority will be concluded in the very near future.

There are approximately 1,100 claims that have been processed but not yet paid. These claims will be paid as soon as is practicable following receipt of the claimant's acceptance notice and the expiration of the statutory 28 days appeal period. In the case of claims under appeal, payment cannot be finalised until the appeals process is fully completed. The breakdown of claims, fully processed but not yet paid by county is indicated as follows.

County	Claims processed but not paid
Carlow	14
Cavan	26
Clare	33
Cork	117
Derry	2
Donegal	65
Dublin	254
Fermanagh	1
Galway	58
Kerry	35
Kildare	67
Kilkenny	23
Laois	14
Leitrim	21
Limerick	50
Longford	15
Louth	29
Mayo	36
Meath	16
Monaghan	16
Offaly	13
Roscommon	25
Sligo	52
Tipperary	38
Waterford	24
Westmeath	16
Wexford	18
Wicklow	17
Outside Ireland	16
Total	1,111

In relation to the costs of the scheme, a total of €368.8m has been expended to end 2008 and a breakdown of the cost is as follows:

Repayments to 31 of December 2008: €346.8m

Overheads 2006: €3.0m

Overheads 2007: €5.0m

Overheads 2008: €14.0m

Total Expenditure: €368.8m

Overheads include payments to the Scheme Administrator of €13.419m to date together with advertising, legal expenses, H.S.E. pay costs and general office expenses.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

437 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children if court cases have been taken against the Health Service Executive in relation to claims under a scheme (details supplied); the outcome of the court cases; the amount of money that was paid in settlement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1493/09]

Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney)

I understand that the Deputy is referring to legal cases concerning people in long stay in-patient facilities. The Department of Health and Children and the HSE are involved in a number of cases relating to this area. These cases are dealt with in the ordinary way in accordance with legal advice that the Department and the HSE is receiving from their legal advisers. It would not be appropriate to make further comment at this time as these matters are currently before the courts.

Questions Nos 438 to 440, inclusive, answered with Question No. 436.