Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. Approximately 1,400 children have life-limiting illnesses in this country and approximately 340 die each year. Not enough is being done. If one was to be harsh and look at it from an accounting point of view, one would see it is a cost saving exercise. Providing palliative care and supports for children with life-limiting illnesses at home is a cost saving rather than having them in acute hospital setting. More important, allowing people to care for their loved ones at home in their own surroundings, with which they are most comfortable, is the right thing to do rather than have parents and siblings traipsing in and out of hospitals on a continual basis.

We have the expertise and competence. LauraLynn and The Jack and Jill Children's Foundation, to which the Minister of State referred, are two excellent organisations which provide wonderful supports for people at home. We have the competence but what we need are the resources to establish a proper paediatric home care package.

I urge the Minister of State to look on this matter from a human point of view and also as a solution to the budgetary position.

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