Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)

Deputy Kelleher will know we have been extraordinarily well served in Cork with the hospice movement there. On the question of the gaps that exist, a palliative care service medium-term development framework was published by the HSE in July 2009. This sets national priorities which have been agreed by all stakeholders, based on solid needs analysis, to ensure that services do not develop in an ad hoc fashion and that any developments proposed in future reflect areas of greatest need. This methodology ensures an equitable approach to service provision, as well as consistency of inputs, such as pay and non-pay costs and staffing levels. I take on board the Deputy's comments. No matter where people are, their needs are the same and we must ensure an equitable delivery of the service.

See this speech in context