Recommendations contained in two reports about the future financing of long-term care for the sick and elderly are unlikely to be implemented in the lifetime of the Government, Fine Gael claims.
The Minister for Health and Children, Mr Martin, today said he hoped public debate would be generated by the publication of the "Review of the Nursing Home Subvention Scheme", commissioned by his Department; and the "Study on the Future Financing of Long-term Care in Ireland" commissioned by the Department of Social and Family Affairs.
But a joint statement issued by Fine Gael's health spokespersons warns the recommendations "only go half-way to addressing the serious problems in this sector".
Ms Olivia Michell and deputy health spokesman Mr Dan Neville said: "None of the recommendations contained in these two reports are likely to be in place during the lifetime of this Government. Since there will be a consultation process, followed by a working group and then yet another review, we are not going to see any major changes for some time."
The statement also called for a more efficient system to ensure patients ready for discharge from acute hospitals can be dealt with discharged promptly and put "into an appropriate setting".
"There are still too many acute hospital beds being occupied by elderly people who should be in a nursing home, and there are serious anomalies in the nursing home subvention scheme.
"This means that an estimated 800 acute hospital beds are occupied by elderly people who would be better cared for in a nursing home, and that is where urgent action is necessary," the statement said.
Labour Party spokesman on Older People's Issues, Mr Seán Ryan described the launch of the reports this morning as a PR exercise.
"While waiting lists are getting longer public nursing home beds are unoccupied and home help is being drastically reduced.
"Pending the outcome of the consultative process I am demanding that all vacant public nursing home beds throughout the country be fully utilised and that additional beds in private nursing homes be contracted immediately by the Health Boards," Mr Ryan said.
The "Study on the Future Financing of Long-term Care in Ireland", which the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Ms Mary Coughlan, said would form the basis of consultations in the coming months, advises an increase Social Insurance (PRSI) payments.
The report estimates the total number of older people in need of moderate or high levels of care is 19.5 per cent of over-65s, or 2.1 per cent of the population, rising to 308 per cent by 2051.
The report suggests a number of measures to raise revenue to pay for the increased cost of care but favours PRSI.
The Department of Health report also warns of the unsustainable costs long-term of care under the present system, saying the cost of Nursing Home Subvention Scheme had risen by more than 600 per cent since it was introduced 10 years ago.
Mr Martin said: "It is imperative, now, that all service planners and service providers use the information gleaned from this review to ensure that the needs and wishes of older peole are to the fore in the provision of long-term care."