The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, has admitted that it was 'unacceptable' that elderly people have to wait on trolleys before admission to A&E departments.
But he has said that another 250 private beds are to be used to take long-stay patients out of public facilities to reduce pressure on A&E departments.
Mr Ahern told the Dáil he had been informed by the Health Service Executive yesterday that it was to contract another 250 beds, on top of another 250 private beds rented in November.
Answering questions from Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny, Mr Ahern said the current problems in A&E were largely the result of flu and the winter vomiting bug.
Deputy Kenny said that in 2006 the Government should be able to do better in Accident and Emergency.
He claimed that numbers attending casualty departments had remained the same, but that despite increased resources, the situation was getting worse.
Health top issue for Independents
Meanwhile, a group of nine Independent deputies have said health would be the top priority with them in the run up to, and after, the next General Election.
Speaking at a news conference in Dublin this morning attended by eight of the deputies, Tony Gregory said that the crisis in the health service would be the key issue for the Independent deputies.
He said it was not an issue of raising taxes to sort out the problems but one of prioritising the resources that are there.
He said that we live in a two-tier system and there was not the political will to resolve the present crisis.
Speaking at the same news conference the Independent TD for Mayo, Dr Jerry Cowley, said that 11 days ago a man in his 70s died while awaiting admission for treatment at Galway's University College Hospital.
He said that if this person had been related to a politician he would have got the treatment he required.
Dr Cowley added: 'Unfortunately this person is one of a number of unknown citizens who have died waiting and who will continue to die while waiting for treatment on heart, on cancer and on many other waiting lists.'
SIPTU warns against A&E privatisation
The SIPTU General Secretary, Joe O'Flynn, has warned that continued adverse publicity surrounding A&E services could be used by some people to justify the privatisation of the services.
Speaking at the SIPTU's annual nursing convention in Sligo, Mr O'Flynn said that despite the fact that the health services were under resourced, health care staff continued to provide a first class service to patients.
He appealed for positive action and adequate funding for all the health services, including psychiatric care units and nursing homes.
Mr Flynn called on the Minister for Health, Mary Harney, to put health before greed and profit.
