Eight elderly residents at a hospital centre who had tested positive for coronavirus died over the Easter bank holiday weekend.
RTE reports that the deaths took place at the Maryborough Centre at St Finian's Hospital in Portlaoise, Co Laois over the three-day weekend.
Eight residents had tested positive for Covid-19, while a ninth resident at the centre also passed away.
They were all aged between 66 and 84.
The HSE said it would like to express its sincerest sympathies to the families and friends of the deceased.
It added that residents were supported and cared for on a 24/7 basis by a dedicated team of nurses, following queries on staffing by RTE.
The HSE added that the 17 remaining residents are being managed as if they have Covid-19, regardless of presence of symptoms or test results.
Extra staff have been called into the area, while a number of staff are currently on sick leave, but the HSE insisted the current complement of staff members is sufficient to manage the centre.
