Minister for Health Mary Harney is hoping to bring in international experts to identify those who have been charged illegally for nursing home care and who are entitled to obtain refunds from the State.
Speaking in Cork, Ms Harney said: "It's a mammoth task, firstly identifying who the individuals are, and secondly, being able to identify what they are entitled to get and much of that will depend on the Travers Report which will look at the management of the issue by the Department of Health," she said.
"Clearly, in the case of people of unsound mind, we have to go back to 1976. In the case of others, perhaps we will use the statute of limitations which is six years, particularly if people are deceased - anyone who is living, I would like to go back much further."
Ms Harney said much depends on the advice she receives from the Attorney General on foot of the Travers Report which is expected shortly because the advice will be very much based on "who knew what, when".
"We have identified a company that has assisted in a process of this kind in the past overseas and if that company was in a position to help us, I would certainly like to avail of their services but we haven't spoken to the company yet," she said.
Ms Harney said delays on the helplines "are inevitable".
"There are maybe from 275,000 to over 300,000 people or their relatives affected and many of the calls are being made by the relatives of deceased persons," said Ms Harney.
"We have provided 10 staff to man the helplines but I think on day one, we had 37,000 calls - no helpline could possibly service 37,000 and we can't recruit a whole plethora of people to man phonelines," she said.
"There is no cut-off point and the scheme is not up and running and it can't be until we know the outcome of the Travers Report. So what I would encourage people to do is to take time, they have plenty of time. There will be no deadline as to when they can apply."
