Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Ms Wall pointed out that it is one thing to get babies to the specialist centre but another challenge to bring them back. Is there not a third leg to the stool in terms of getting them out of the local hospital and back to their own homes? This in itself is a huge challenge, particularly for premature babies with life limiting conditions. Sadly, we face that problem this time every year. Parents with children in ICUs and SCBUs are anxious to bring them home for Christmas but the current funding structure makes it impossible for them to do so. For some children, this will be their only Christmas and the system is falling down if they have to spend it in hospital rather than at home.

The rate of prematurity in Ireland is 7% on average, compared to an average of 5% across Europe.