Almost one in 10 homes have shut their doors since before the pandemic, with 41 closing over the last four years.

It emerged last month that there was a legal strategy to limit payouts to people on medical cards who would have been entitled to nursing home care provided by the State.

It's alleged the state faced a 12 billion euro liability in compensation for families

She claims that local nursing homes in this region are close to breaking point.

Deputy Denis Naughten has urged the HSE to take action.

The lack of places available for older people in nursing homes is set to become worse as smaller private facilities say they can't cope financially with the rising costs of energy and other associated products

Older Person's Minister Mary Butler says some operators appear to be closing their current businesses in favour of accommodating Ukrainian refugees.

Two local care providers have announced their closure plans in recent weeks.