Children's homes shut to cut cost

A residential care home in Derry is also earmarked for closure

The Western Health and Social Services Trust is to close two of it's nine children's homes to save money.

The facilities facing closure are to be identified shortly. There will then be a consultation period.

The closures are expected to take effect within the next three years and should save the trust about £700,000.

Four residential care homes have also been earmarked for closure. The trust must save £36m over the next three years through efficiency savings.

Plans to close the Foyleville residential home in Derry were outlined at a meeting to residents' families on Monday night.

Homes in Strabane, Lisnaskea and Omagh are also scheduled to close.

The trust said the plans for elderly residential care were at an early stage and a consultation would be carried out.

The nephew of a resident, who didn't want to be named, called for a campaign to stop the closures.

"I think it's about time the people of Derry stood up and did something about it because it's going to affect them some day.

"Everybody's getting older so when it comes your time, what are you going to do if they keep doing away with these places?" he said.