Nearly 500 awaiting a bed in hospitals across the country
There are 466 patients on trolleys in hospital emergency departments, or on wards today, waiting for admission to a bed.
The hospital worst affected is South Tipperary General Hospital with 46 patients waiting.
Other hospitals badly affected are Beaumont Hospital in Dublin with 40 patients, Tallaght Hospital in Dublin with 37 and University Hospital Limerick with 36 patients waiting.
The figures are compiled by the Irish Nurses & Midwives' Organisation.
Arrests during Dublin circus protest
Six people have been arrested and a number of others have been hospitalised during a protest against the German Belly Wein circus in Dublin.
Earlier this month animal rights group ARAN sought to prevent the staging of shows by the circus group.
Shows in Monaghan were blocked and protests were staged at performances in Mullingar in recent weeks.
999 call operators to stage 12-hour strike
999 call operators are to stage a second 12-hour strike in Navan on Thursday as part of their campaign for a Living Wage and trade union recognition.
BT/Conduit Global have refused to meet with the Communications Workers' Union or concede a Living Wage of €11.50 per hour for 999 call operators.
Union members across all three emergency call centres (ECAS) in Ballyshannon, Dublin and Navan will also be working on a work-to-rule basis for one month from 8 April until 8 May inclusive.
Syria allows aid deliveries to more besieged areas
Syria's government has given a UN-backed taskforce permission to deliver aid to more besieged areas, but two opposition strongholds and a city controlled by the so-called Islamic State group remain off limits, a UN official said.
Jan Egeland, who heads the humanitarian taskforce co-chaired by the United States and Russia, said there has been sustained progress in delivering life-saving supplies.
The United Nations has identified 18 areas in the war-ravaged country it considers to be besieged.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government yesterday gave "a verbal green light to go to some new besieged areas", meaning the taskforce now has permission to reach a total of 15 locations, Mr Egeland said.
