The height of the hospital trolley crisis saw 612 people lying on trolleys across the country.
During this time, it has emerged, that 742 empty beds existed in nursing homes nationwide.
It was by failure of the HSE to engage with these care homes, that the beds went unused at the peak of the crisis.
The Department of Health had announced plans, last July, to use nursing homes as part of their winter strategy.
Nursing Homes Ireland (NHI) chief Tadhg Daly said the HSE made no engagement with their organisation and that they informed the HSE of the 742 available beds.
“At the height of the emergency crisis on January 5, NHI notified the Department of Health and HSE that 742 beds were available across Ireland within nursing homes,” said Mr Daly.
The HSE refute the claims saying they are in “constant communication” with the NHI over empty beds.