The Health Service Executive has denied claims by the Irish Nurses' Organisation that there are almost 500 beds closed within the hospital system because of underfunding.
The HSE said just 93 acute hospital beds had been closed nationally out of a total of 12,000.
All were closed on a temporary basis for "necessary reasons" such as infection control, redesignation of facilities and refurbishments, the HSE added.
However, INO industrial relations director Phil Ní Sheaghdha said it stood over its claim that more than 480 beds had been closed in the hospital system, "which, with minimal investment, could be brought back into use".
Ms Ní Sheaghdha said the beds, if reopened, would cater twice over for the more than 200 patients being treated each day on hospital trolleys.
The INO estimated that there were 240 people on trolleys yesterday compared to 224 on Monday.
"The fact that the numbers on trolleys have remained consistently high throughout the summer, when they should have dropped, is enough advance warning to show we are facing a worse winter than ever unless these beds are immediately opened," she said.
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