Gerry Adams says 479 patients ‘languishing’ on trolleys

There were 479 people "languishing on trolleys in hospital corridors'' this morning, Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams said.

He told the Dáil on Wednesday the figure included 40 in Our Lady of Lourdes hospital in his Louth constituency.

“I have been raising this issue consistently at Leaders’ Questions,’’ he added. “It predates my election to this institution.’’

Mr Adams said a letter from the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQUA) had pointed out that if recommendations it made in 2012 were implemented, the current risk to patients would have been significantly reduced.

He added the situation was now “a national crisis’’.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny said the issue was "a matter of challenge'' for the Government, adding Minister for Health Leo Varadkar had its full support.

“That is why he set up the emergency task force to deal with discharges and why €25 million was made available which did reduce the extent of time people were waiting for Fair Deal and allowed for beds to be open on a transitional and emergency basis,’’ he said.