The Minister for Health, Mr Cowen, admitted there was a shortage of nurses in the State. But he said the US, Britain and other countries were also experiencing a large decline in applicants for nursing training.

"This is not yet the case in Ireland. However, we must not become complacent," Mr Cowen added.

There are 57,317 nurses registered with An Bord Altranais and 47,863 are on the nursing board's live register, he told Labour's health spokeswoman, Ms Roisin Shortall, during health questions.

The number of nurses in the health service has increased steadily in recent years and between 1990 and 1996 the number of full-time nursing staff funded by the Department rose from 24,732 to 27,264, a rise of 10.2 per cent.

Ms Shortall said the Irish Nurses' Organisation estimated there was a shortage of up to 1,000 nurses.