Campaigners called today for health officials to reopen a ward at the Mater hospital and free up dozens of beds to ease the A&E overcrowding crisis.
With 342 patients being cared for on trolleys in hospitals nationwide, Labour Party justice spokesman Joe Costello said shutting down an entire ward was unacceptable.
Labour Party justice spokesman Joe Costello
The Dublin Central TD called on Tanaiste and Minister for Health Mary Harney to ensure that fixing the chronic shortage was her priority.
"We know that there are 500 beds out of use across the country, including an entire ward in the Mater," said Mr Costello. "There's a chronic shortage of space and beds in the A&E, so there's no reason why this ward should remain closed."
The Irish Nurses' Organisation revealed that yesterday afternoon there were 342 patients lying on trolleys in hospitals around the country waiting for a bed.
A total of 28 patients were lying on trolleys in the Mater.
The worst affected hospital in the country is Tallaght with 32 people in need of a bed followed by Wexford with 30.
Campaigners have been gathering outside the Mater Hospital every weekend for several months to highlight the A&E crisis there.
Mr Costello, who leads the weekly demonstrations, insisted the campaign would run until Ms Harney brought the situation under control.
"Mary Harney has been the Minister for Health for 16 months. Fixing the crisis in our A&E departments was to be her priority when she took office, but these figures tell us that she has still has not made any significant progress," he said.
"The situation in A&E has never been worse with people regularly waiting on a trolley or a chair for up to a week for a bed. These protests will continue until the Tanaiste fulfils her promise."