The Roscommon/Longford and Sligo/Leitrim Garda divisions all reported an increase in these offences.

The numbers refer to incidents where the location was marked as 'hospital' in the Gardaí's reporting software called PULSE.

Deputy Harkin says the chronic overcrowding seems to have brought things to a head, but the root of the problem lies further back in time.

Denis Naughten and Marian Harkin both urged action on the Patient Safety Bill.

Deputy MacSharry resigned from the party this week.

The Sligo-Leitrim TD has quit Fianna Fail, alleging the Taoiseach used a complaint about him for national political gain.

He says he should be re-admitted to the parliamentary party next week.

A new full time detective inspector along with two detective gardai have recently been appointed.