THE HSE would undertake a full investigation into the abuse of old people by paid carers, Taoiseach Brian Cowen told the Dáil.

Mr Cowen said he understood four cases of abuse had been highlighted in Monday night's RTÉ Prime Timeprogramme.

“It is important to point out that any individual case, where less than professional and caring services are provided, is something which nobody in a position of responsibility would stand over,’’ he added. “Therefore, there has to be a full investigation by the managers of the services in the HSE into all of these areas, and a review must take place in order that they can confirm that clients who are in receipt of these services at local level are obtaining them in a way we all would expect.’’

He said a helpline set up yesterday morning, as result of the programme, had received about 54 calls by noon, nine of which related to complaints from clients and their families.

Mr Cowen said the publication and implementation of national guidelines and procedures for the standardised implementation of the homecare packages scheme, and quality guidelines for home care support services for older people, would be available in the early new year.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said the Taoiseach should be big enough to apologise to the elderly people concerned.

Mr Cowen said the House would be unanimous in its concern about any digression from the highest standards of care, particularly for people who were elderly or vulnerable and part of the mental health services or living in community care settings. He would apologise to any family “for any digression from the standard of care which we are entitled to expect’’.

Mr Kenny said the RTÉ programme had exposed indignity and inhumanity, as well as unChristian and uncaring activities.

It had also exposed, said Mr Kenny, a “rottenness at the heart of Irish society’’. While it might be relevant to a minority of carers, it was “a sickening episode of inhumanity to elderly persons and was something that could happen to anyone or to everyone’s mother in such a situation’’. Mr Kenny said people who were not vetted, trained, or used to administering drugs or food in its various forms to elderly people were visiting the private homes of the elderly.

There were uncaring attitudes, where elderly people who were still able to do things for themselves were not allowed to do so, he said: “It is a modern-day form of human imprisonment of the worst type.” He said the Law Reform Commission had produced recommendations on regulation in October of last year, while an National Economic and Social Forum report had also stressed the importance of regulation.

Mr Cowen said most services were provided by the HSE and some by voluntary or private sectors.