It has emerged that more than 300,000 people could be eligible for compensation for illegal nursing home charges.
Speaking in the Dáil, the Minister for Finance has said he had no accurate estimate of how much it will cost to repay the charges.
Brian Cowen denied that he had ever said that the compensation payments would come from current health spending. He said there would be a supplementary estimate to provide the money this year.
However, Mr Cowen added that the money would come from the taxpayers, and whatever the cost was, it would not go on other things.
Mr Cowen also suggested that some families were very happy with the care that had been given in nursing homes, and would not be making any claim.
No need for solicitors says Harney
Earlier, the Tánaiste and Minister for Health said that no person charged illegally for long term care would need to hire a solicitor to get what they are owed.
Mary Harney has also given her strongest indication yet that politicians will be criticised in the Travers' Report into the charges, which is due to be published next week.
The Tánaiste confirmed this morning that the Government would bring forward a scheme for compensation as soon as possible.
She was also asked by Labour leader Pat Rabbitte to explain why she had said there had been 'systematic maladministration' in the Department of Health on the issue.
Ms Harney stood over the remark, saying it had been thought that nobody in the department had known about the problem, but this had not been the case.
She added that 'maladministration did not just affect public officials', an indication that politicians will also be criticised in the Travers' Report.
