Over 1 point 7 million NCTs were carried out last year - with the majority of failures for steering and suspension problems.

Nationally, 700 patients are on trolleys as of this morning with over 100 waiting for a bed in University Hospital Limerick.

The Lithuanian national had been living and working in the area for the previous two years.

The male driver was stopped on the scene and arrested for the unauthorised taking of the vehicle.

It is due to come into effect at 8pm and will last until 10am tomorrow morning.

The data provided a breakdown of the number of patients admitted to hospitals and subdivided by their respective Community Health Organisation.

It comes as major changes are planned for the Leaving Cert.

The pedestrian was seriously injured.