The Government faces a "complex and mammoth task" to ensure patients who were illegally charged for care in residential institutions are repaid, the Minister for Health conceded today.
The Tánaiste, Ms Harney told the Dáil this afternoon that the Government was anxious to avoid individuals or families to whom money is owed having to take legal action to recoup this money.
However, it would be a "complex and mammoth task" to see that all those affected would get justice, said Ms Harney in response to a question from the Fine Gael leader, Mr Enda Kenny.
She estimated around 275,000 people were overcharged.
Ms Harney said it was unfortunate that upwards of €500 million would be needed to repay the money "as it clearly could be used elsewhere".
However, she reiterated her insistence that the money would not be taken from the health service budget or from the allocations of any other Government department.
Government ministers are to meet the Attorney General tomorrow morning to discuss establishing a statutory scheme to repay overcharged pensioners.