The Gardaí have processed 5,500 vetting applications for healthcare workers over the past three weeks.

The applications have a turnaround time of just one or two days to get extra staff to the frontlines.

This means there are 5,500 more healthcare workers available.

This breaks down to nearly 2,000 for the Health Service Executive (HSE) and more then 1,600 for the National Recruitment Federation for medically-related staff.

There are also over 900 for Nursing Homes Ireland and more than 800 for independent hospitals, healthcare agencies and the volunteer sector.

These are part of the 'On Call for Ireland' initiative, which saw tens of thousands of people apply to help fight the coronavirus.

The HSE asked all healthcare professionals from all disciplines, who are not already working in the public health service, to register.

HSE chief Paul Reid previously described the response as "overwhelming support from business, communities, social groups and individuals."

People can still register their interest here - where they will be asked for details of experience or skills.