Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy has known me long enough. I am always loath to direct people to do something unless I consider there is belligerence there and do not think there is in these cases. However, I will undertake to examine the matter and make inquiries about what can be done concerning the three children the Deputy has mentioned. We must remember that they are children.

I am pleased to take this opportunity to outline the current position in relation to home care plans for children supported by the Jack & Jill Children's Foundation on reaching their fourth birthday. The Jack & Jill Children's Foundation offers a care package to families in respect of palliative care nursing and home care for children with life-limiting conditions. This funding is provided to families following assessment by a member of their home nursing team.

The Jack & Jill Children's Foundation, along with other contracted service providers, is part of a range of services that receive funding from the Health Service Executive to provide services to families with children who have life-limiting conditions. Many children availing of services provided by the Jack & Jill Children's Foundation also avail of other specialist hospital-based and community-based health supports and disability services. In those circumstances, it is always preferable for the child to be at home as far as possible.

Each HSE area has a home care co-ordinator who has responsibility for the planning and provision of all home care packages in their area, including for those children receiving supports from the Jack & Jill Children's Foundation who are reaching their fourth birthday. Home care packages are delivered based on assessment of the applicants and their families. This assessment takes into account all services being provided by all agencies to ensure the delivery of an integrated package to meet the assessed needs. A care plan is then agreed and delivered by the HSE, voluntary or private providers, or a combination thereof. This process ensures that all children with life-limiting conditions receive services on an equitable basis and through a standardised approach. The HSE's disability services provide annual funding to the Jack & Jill Children's Foundation under section 39 of the Health Act 2004. In 2013, the foundation received funding of just over €630,000. The foundation also raises additional finance through fund-raising activities. It gets that money because it is a good foundation - it is as simple as that.

The Jack & Jill Children's Foundation also engages with the primary care division of the health service, which was given an additional budget of €1.2 million in the 2014 national service plan to address specific service challenges in areas such as the discharge of special care babies from hospital who have tracheotomies and require packages of care in the community. My Department is following up with the HSE in respect of one family with a child who has just reached four years of age. I assume that is one of the children Deputy Ó Fearghaíl is talking about and if the Deputy has a particular case in mind I would appreciate the details in order that we can pursue the matter with the HSE.

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