Concerns raised over €191m HSE fund
The executive operates Patients’ Private Property Accounts (PPPAs) for the elderly and clients with intellectual disability and mental health problems.
The money in the accounts is made up of Department of Social Protection allowances and pensions as well as other monies people may have.
At the end of 2009, of the €191m in the fund, €179.7m was invested in Government-guaranteed fixed interest accounts.
Families of people who live in services have raised concerns over whether the money is being used to benefit the person while they are alive, and not just being left to sit in an account.
Although she is his next of kin, Marcella O’Sullivan, whose brother Paul has lived in services for most of his life — whose story was featured recently in the Irish Examiner — says she has never seen a statement of his account.
Marcella says she has never broached the subject of Paul’s money as she does not want to be accused of simply being interested in his money.
But she says nobody knows how Paul’s money is spent. He gets new clothes once or twice a year but nothing else is ever bought for him.
“My fight is about Paul and getting what is best for him, it is not about money or anything else, and that’s why I have never even asked about his money situation, but I know nothing is ever bought for him except clothes.”
Campaigner Darach Murphy, whose brother, who has a mild disability and lives in a HSE residential care home in Dublin, said his brother’s money is also held for him.
“I had to fight to get a statement of his accounts. I know some money is taken from his account and used to buy things for the house. The problem is he has little choice and has to get forms signed if he wants to spend any of the money.”
Inclusion Ireland says the money should be used for a person’s benefit while they are alive and not just handed over to somebody after they pass away.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Disability Kathleen Lynch has said residential homes and services for people with disabilities will finally begin to be inspected by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA).
There is currently no independent inspection of disability services for children or adults,.
Ms Lynch said standards drawn up by HIQA in 2009 would be used to inspect the facilities and this would start by July 2011.
