A Sligo Leitrim TD says a new report on the provision of long-term residential care in Ireland is providing more evidence that the North West region is lagging behind other parts of the country when it comes to the provision of such services.
A damning report by the ESRI has identified regional inequalities in care home bed availability with counties like Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal not having the required numbers.
The report warns that based on future planned development, these inequalities are likely to be exacerbated in the near term.
Independent TD, Deputy Marian Harkin says the local region is home to the oldest population in the country, however the level of care beds available is not on par with other areas such as counties in the east.
Deputy Harkin also added that the continuing trend of smaller family owned and operated homes closing in this regions is adding to the severity of the situation:
