The HSE has said that it expects flu cases to peak during Christmas week, but that the rate of growth is slowing.
Latest figures show that 3,287 cases of flu were reported in the week to last Saturday, compared with 2,943 cases in the previous week.
The HSE said that while the rate of growth is slowing, the rate of infection is growing and very active in the community.
HSE Chief Bernard Gloster said that the HSE had been predicting a range of 700-1,500 cases being in hospital on any one day at the height of the flu. That range has now been reduced to between 800 -1,100 cases.
Last week, 816 new cases were admitted to hospital and today there are 634 in hospital with influenza.
