Dialysis units throughout the State are under severe pressure, with an increase of 4.4 per cent in the number of patients requiring dialysis this year compared with 2002.
The rise is despite a near record number of kidney transplants performed last year, according to the Irish Kidney Association (IKA).
A survey by the association shows that the number of patients here who require haemodialysis has increased by 21.5 percent since 2000.
"Three years ago a survey indicated the severe pressure that Beaumont Hospital's haemodialysis unit was in and nothing was done about it.
"How clear does the evidence have to be to prove that the biggest dialysis unit in the country is in severe trouble," according to the IKA chief executive, Mr Mark Murphy.
The IKA survey shows that dialysis units in Beaumont Hospital, the Mater and St Vincent's in Dublin, as well as those in Limerick and Waterford have not been expanded in the last three years and are working at above the national average.
The pressure on an individual unit is measured by calculating the number of patients per dialysis treatment station.
While the national average is 5.82, Beaumont hospital has 10.3 patient per station. This compares with 8.25 in Cork and 6.21 in Tallaght hospital. (See table)
In Northern Ireland, the busiest unit at Belfast City Hospital treats 6.23 dialysis patients per station.
Mr Murphy expressed frustration at the delay in opening a six station dialysis unit at Tullamore General Hospital, which has been funded by the Irish Kidney Association.
"At present we have a hole in services in the middle of the country and the new unit would help relieve pressure on Tallaght and Beaumont as well as improving the quality of life for patients in the midlands."
He added that the Republic has a much lower detection rate for serious kidney disease that Northern Ireland.
Comparative figures for the two parts of the island indicate that the South has 359 undetected people with kidney failure.
People with end stage kidney disease require dialysis while waiting for organ transplantation. Without regular dialysis most patients would die.