A&E overcrowding a year-round problem, says Varadkar 

'We are seeing emergency department overcrowding running at about 20% or 30% lower than this time last summer.' the Taoiseach said. 

The Taoiseach has admitted overcrowding in hospital emergency departments (EDs) is no longer confined to just the winter months, with certain pinch periods seeing the situation go from “bad to very bad”.

Leo Varadkar made the comments as Health Minister Stephen Donnelly brought a plan to Cabinet on Tuesday which will replace the previous strategy of rolling out a winter plan each year.