The Minister for Social Care has announced an investment of €385m to replace or improve 90 residential centres for older people.

The money will create an addition 200 beds for the elderly, who need full time care.

Most of the work will be completed in what was known as the old workhouse or county home system.

Minister Kathleen Lynch has said it will take five years to complete the scheme: “33 of them will be completely replaced, new builds.

“57 will either be refurbished and extended or refurbished, some of them are maybe 10 – 15 years old, but not fit for purpose anymore and new HIQA standards.”