207 Mr. Aylward asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the progress to date on the long-term stay charges repayment scheme; and when it is expected repayments will issue under this scheme. [24646/06]

241 Mr. Timmins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the position in relation to long-stay patients entitled to a refund with regard to repayments to residence of public funded long stay care homes; if this payment will be made as a matter of urgency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24842/06]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 207 and 241 together.

The Health (Repayment Scheme) Act 2006 was signed by the President on 23 June 2006. This Act provides a clear legal framework for a scheme to repay recoverable health charges for publicly funded long term care.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) are in the process of announcing the appointment of a preferred service provider to administer this repayment scheme. On appointment the company will immediately begin work on the scheme to ensure that a significant proportion of patients will receive their repayments within a short period. The company will, within four weeks of appointment, begin to issue application forms and begin notifying approximately 7,600 living patients of the amount of repayment due to them. The HSE has indicated that the details of these repayments have been prepared in advance of the appointment of the company. On submission of an application and receipt of notification of the calculated amount of repayment due, the applicant will have a period of 28 days in which to appeal or reject the calculated amount of repayment due prior to the issuing of money by the HSE.