More than 26,000 people are awaiting assessment by an occupational therapist in the State, the Labour Party has claimed.
Social and family affairs spokeswoman Roisin Shortall said she had obtained the new figures from the Health Service Executive (HSE).
Ms Shortall said they reveal that more than 26,000 people are awaiting assessment by an Occupational Therapist (OT) at a time when there are 183 OT posts unfilled.
"These are truly shocking figures that reveal the full impact of last year's HSE embargo on the recruitment or replacement of staff and point to the urgent need for the early filling of all outstanding posts.
"Occupational therapists play a vital role in assessing the needs of people with mobility problems. There are a whole range of services that will only be provided after an assessment by an OT has been done. Typically people needing assessment might be stroke victims, people with disabilities or elderly people recovering from the effects of a fall," she said.
Ms Shortall said in some cases people were waiting over a year before being assessed.
She blamed the failure to fill the vacant OT posts on the recruitment embargo in the health service.