The organisation representing the country's emergency medicine consultants has expressed grave concern at what it said are dangerous levels of overcrowding in some emergency departments in children's hospitals.
The Irish Association for Emergency Medicine said children are spending over 12 hours on trolleys and in some cases are waiting over 24 hours for a bed.
The association said that levels of overcrowding in the emergency departments of some hospitals have reached historically high levels.
It said the number of children at Our Lady's Children's Hospital in Dublin awaiting admission but remaining on trolleys has increased by nearly 700% in three years.
Consultants said that the 12-hour wait on a trolley and in some cases 24-hour wait for a bed is ethically unacceptable.
The association said the rate of children leaving hospital without being seen has increased.
It said the Children's University Hospital in Temple Street is also reporting significantly worsening overcrowding.
While emergency department overcrowding is perceived to mainly affect older people, doctors said this is not the case.
The association is calling on the Health Minister to re-open closed beds, especially during the winter period to deal with the pressure.
The Health Service Executive said today it plans to have a meeting next week with the IAEM to discuss its concerns.
In the Dáil a private members motion on health services put forward by Fianna Fáil was defeated by votes 86 to 43.
Elsewhere, there are 348 patients on trolleys waiting in hospital emergency departments today, according to the latest figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation.
The hospital worst affected is Our Lady of Lourdes in Drogheda where 45 patients are waiting.
