316,000 could be eligible for payments

Figures provided by the Health Service Executive to the Government indicate that up to 316,000 people may be eligible for compensation as a result of the illegal charges levied on patients in public nursing homes and other long-stay facilities.

The figures, which have not yet been verified, are far higher than the numbers originally estimated by the Government and would signal that the State's bill for meeting the compensation payments could be in excess of the €500 million to €2 billion range forecast after the recent Supreme Court ruling.

The new figures on those eligible for compensation were revealed as it emerged that the handling of the issue by politicians as well as health service officials will be addressed in the official report on the illegal charges by former head of Forfás John Travers, which is to be presented to Minister for Health Mary Harney this afternoon.

The report is expected to be strongly critical of procedures in the Department of Health. Remarks by Ms Harney in the Dáil yesterday were interpreted as the first hint that Travers may criticise some former ministers.

Following the recent Supreme Court ruling, Ms Harney said there had been "systemic maladministration" in the Department of Health. However yesterday she told the Dáil that "maladministration does not just affect public officials".

"When we stated that these charges were levied, we thought it was on the basis of good faith and that no one knew that what we were doing was wrong. That was not the case. It became very clear over recent weeks that it had been known for a considerable time that we were acting illegally."

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said it would be very serious if the report found that a former minister had been aware of the illegal nature of the charges.

Minister for Finance Brian Cowen told the Dáil yesterday there were no accurate estimates as to the eventual bill but said there would be no cutbacks to pay for it.

Last night informed sources said the Minister's comments were meant to send a clear signal to officials in the Department of Health - where there has been widespread concern about the possible implications of the Travers report - that the investigation was not simply about putting the blame on civil servants.

After the report is presented to Ms Harney this afternoon, it will be circulated to the Taoiseach, the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Enterprise and Employment.

It will be brought before Cabinet on Tuesday, and it is understood that the document will be launched at a press conference on Tuesday evening. Ms Harney said there was no question of sitting on the report because of the impending byelections in Meath and Kildare next week.

In London last night the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said the money would have to be found to meet the compensation payments although he indicated that this had not been budgeted for.