The Government must listen to older people and their families in Mayo and take urgent action to build public capacity and halt nursing home closures.

That’s the view of Mayo Sinn Féin TD Rose Conway Walsh, following 24 care homes closing their doors nationally in the past 18 months.

Most recently, St Anne’s Nursing Home in Charlestown announced their closure after 40 years in business, leaving behind a 26 bed facility.

Sinn Féin is calling on the Government to develop  a medium and long term plan to ensure the sustainability of nursing homes across the state.

Sinn Féin is bringing a motion to the Dáil today that sets out a number of measures they think need to be implemented to address the issue.

Deputy Rose Conway Walsh has been outlining the party’s concerns to Midwest Radio News: