Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has told the Dáil that the hospital system has been "close to full capacity in recent weeks", and that this has caused "distress" to staff and patients.
As of 4 July, admissions were up 12% on the same period in 2019, he said. During Priority Questions to the Minister for Health, Sinn Féin's David Cullinane said that over-crowding in acute hospitals is "very close to being back at pre-pandemic levels".
Minister Donnelly said that 834 additional acute beds had been delivered, with 229 more expected this year. 73 sub-acute beds have been added, with 40 more planned for this year, he said.