The Government was dealing with acute problems in hospitals as quickly as possible, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern told the Dáil.
Mr Ahern said in the 24 hours since Labour leader Pat Rabbitte raised the issue in the House, about 3,300 people had been through A&E facilities.
"Thankfully, 90 per cent of those people did not require trolleys, but unfortunately 10 per cent did. Consultants and others must be encouraged to work more. People do not get sick at particular hours, but rather at all hours."
Expressing regret that some people had spent days on trolleys, he reiterated the initiatives being undertaken this year "rather than waiting for the longer term".
Mr Rabbitte said: "For an elderly woman, retained five days and five nights on a trolley in the Mater hospital, it is very little comfort when he rhymes off to the House his version of statistics about hospitals where he claims only a small number of patients are on trolleys."
There was a €170 million package announced in July 2002 for 800 community beds "but not one of them was ever provided".
And he said applicants for the homecare initiative had to go on a waiting list because the allocated funding was used up.
"In a country where so much money has been raised in taxes, elderly people who have paid their taxes all their lives are entitled to be accommodated in hospital care with a minimum of dignity and this is being denied them."
Mr Ahern said homecare packages were being provided to support 500 more older people, and this would free up beds.
Stepdown-care beds "are being purchased in the private sector for those in acute hospitals who are suitable for such care, which will make beds available".
Mr Rabbitte had asked if Mr Ahern thought nurses were out protesting during their lunch because there was no problem.
Mr Ahern said: "I do not believe the nurses are protesting other than because they believe there is a problem."
