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

I welcome the Minister of State's reply. The difficulty is there is often a disconnect between what is said here and what actually happens on the ground. The current position is that medical cards are being withdrawn from some of the sickest children in this country. Deputies on all sides of the House are raising this on a continual basis. The Minister of State has said there is a strategy in place for providing paediatric home care packages and supports to children with life-limiting illnesses, but the reality is that is not happening. Organisations like LauraLynn and The Jack and Jill Children's Foundation are being put to the pin of their collars as they try to raise funds, provide support and give people palliative care at home. The strategy sounds good, but we need the resourcing to fund 24 hour palliative care for children with life-limiting illnesses. This is necessary to allow them to live at home with their families in dignity. As I have said, it is a cost-saving exercise. It costs up to €150,000 a year to keep a child in an acute hospital setting. Palliative care at home can be provided to children for €16,000, with the rest of the cost being met with the support of LauraLynn and the Jack and Jill Children's Foundation.

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