The Health Minister's revealed an increase of almost 7% in the numbers attending Accident and Emergency departments in the first three months of the year.

Leo Varadkar's told the Dáil that despite the pressures the vast majority of people are being seen in a "reasonable" time.

But Fianna Fáil says part of the problem is that GP's can't cope with the pressure from free visits to under 6's and that's why A and E's are getting busier.

The party's health spokesperson, Billy Kelleher: "That only leads to one thing. More people being referred to hospitals. And the evidence is there already."

"Now it's quite obvious that the pressures on our GP services are causing those difficulties."