HSE Chief nervous about how hospitals will cope during winter

The head of the HSE says he’s quite nervous about how hospitals will cope in the coming months.

Latest figures show 457 people are in hospital with covid and 88 in ICU.

It comes as covid restrictions ease further today with the reopening of the nightlife sector and full capacity is now allowed at weddings and sports events.

Paul Reid says the coming months will be tough on the health system.

Meanwhile, a local Sinn Fein TD says the government failed to strengthen the country's health service in the recent budget.

Cavan-Monaghan Deputy Matt Carthy says the issue hospitals are facing this winter with Covid-19 are due to existing capacity issues.

He told Shannonside Northern Sound that the Irish health care has been underfunded for years.