Inspections of nursing homes last year by the independent watchdog HIQA showed a substantial rise in reports of abuse.

Head of Advocacy and Communications at Age Action Justin Moran said: "We welcome the robust and independent monitoring that HIQA provides, but we are concerned at the rise in reports of allegations of suspected or confirmed abuse.

"These rose from 357 in 2014 to 424 last year, an increase of almost 19%.

"It is essential that all of these cases are reported to the HSE's elder abuse case-workers and properly investigated.

"We need a proactive approach to tackling elder abuse with more training for care staff and ensuring residents know how to report cases of suspected abuse."

However, HIQA found good levels of compliance with regulations relating to healthcare, food and nutrition and end-of-life care.

HIQA's Overview Report on the sector shows that 411 inspections were carried out last year in 343 homes across the country, almost half of them unannounced.

The total number of facilities rose to 577 during the period and they provided a total of 30,106 residential beds.

HIQA chief inspector Mary Dunnion said: "Although some progress has been made in a number of areas, providers of residential care services must continue to drive improvements in 2016.

"Person-centred care is at the heart of HIQA's work and an evolving approach to the regulation of older people's services is required to take account of the changing needs of our population.

"Plans for next year include the expansion of our programme of dementia care thematic inspections in at least 160 centres.

"Our focus and commitment is to ensure that all people working across the sector are equally as committed to delivering high quality, considerate care to every individual resident." 

Meanwhile, Nursing Homes Ireland, the body representing private nursing home owners, has warned that what it calls "extraordinary delays" in the registration of nurses are threatening healthcare delivery in the sector.