Minister of State for Health Kathleen Lynch said she was concerned that waiting times on the nursing home fair deal scheme were running at about 15 weeks.
She said her department and the Health Service Executive were working to ensure the available resources delivered the best possible outcomes for older people.
“This will require an integrated approach across community, residential and other service areas,’’ she added.
Ms Lynch said that last July the HSE allocated €5 million for an initiative to improve access to appropriate care for older people.
To date, this had funded more than 300 transitional care beds for patients in acute hospitals from the placement list for the support scheme and more than 200 homecare packages to assist patients in acute hospitals requiring them to be discharged. The Government had provided additional funding of €25 million this year to address delayed discharges, she said.
Colm Keaveney (FF) said the crisis had targeted the most vulnerable people and the traditional care structure had been shattered by the Government's approach.
