Payments scheme 'flawed' says TD

THE APPEALS process for people refused payments under the Government’s Health Repayment Scheme is seriously flawed especially…

THE APPEALS process for people refused payments under the Government’s Health Repayment Scheme is seriously flawed especially as the scheme administrator has been paid over €12 million since the scheme was enacted, says Labour TD Seán Sherlock.

He questioned the value for money from the scheme introduced in 2006 to compensate those wrongly obliged to pay long-stay charges in public nursing homes and for medical care.

Mr Sherlock raised the issue through a parliamentary question to Minister for Health Mary Harney. Ms Harney said €385 million has been paid out in 17,400 separate payments to claimants since the scheme commenced in August 2006.

Ms Harney confirmed that €12.8 million has been paid out to scheme administrator, KPMG/ McCann Fitzgerald while a further €8.2 million has been paid in overheads.

Barry Roche

Barry Roche

Barry Roche is Southern Correspondent of The Irish Times