Elderly and vulnerable women living in a former Magdalene laundry complex face losing their home, which a religious order wants to use for social housing.

The plight of the 31 women at St Vincent's Centre in Cork is now the focus of urgent talks.

The centre provided care for the women, who mostly have intellectual disabilities, for decades. However, the Sisters of Charity ended their involvement in the centre last year.

It came after a care firm in which the order had shares was "deregistered" following two critical Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) reports.

The Irish Independent has now learned the Order wants to see St Vincent's used for social housing because of the accommodation crisis.

Vacant possession may be required as early as March 29. However, negotiations are now under way in a bid to ensure the residents are able to remain at the complex under a new care provider.

Otherwise, it is feared the women may have to move to multiple smaller care centres - and be split up from friends they have lived with for years.

The Order plans to transfer the St Vincent's complex free of charge to a local housing charity.

Irish Independent