The health watchdog is said to be adopting a ‘get tough’ stance on nursing homes across the country.

The Sunday Business Post reports that Hiqa has issued 20 HSE run care homes with notice to cancel or refuse applications for registration unless they make drastic improvements or immediate changes in the next 28 days.

Closures of these 20 facilities will affect hundreds of people with intellectual disabilities.

And Fianna Fail's Spokesperson on Disability and Mental Health, Deputy Colm Keaveny, says the Government has failed to protect our most vulnerable members of society;