Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue which I know is of great interest to him. I particularly acknowledge his special interest in Galway Hospice and the service it provides.

It is the aim of the Government that all people will be provided with the type of palliative care service they need, regardless of what diagnosis they have received, how old they are or whether they die in a hospice, an acute hospital, a nursing home or at home. The Health Service Executive has an annual service level arrangement with the Galway Hospice Foundation. In 2014, €3.36 million in funding was provided for the organisation. Funding is provided for local services on the basis of the budget allocation to palliative care services at a national level. It is normal practice for such service level agreements with hospice providers to cover all specialist palliative care services, namely, inpatient care, home care and day care. I am informed that the allocation to Galway Hospice represents the highest rate per specialist palliative care inpatient bed in the country. Perhaps that information is incorrect, but it is the information I have been given. The lowest allocations are for the north east, south east and midlands, where there are few or no inpatient hospices.

The HSE national director for primary care has recently been alerted, through local representation, that there are service pressures in respect of the funding for home care services being provided through Galway Hospice. This is being investigated as a matter of urgency by the executive with local service management in Galway as it raises concerns about the provision of this vital home care service for individuals and their families. It is recognised that hospices are usually funded through a combination of HSE funding and significant voluntary fundraising and this issue will be considered in its totality in the investigation with a view to ensuring value for money is achieved.

I will continue to monitor the position carefully and have asked for an update on progress. On foot of our conversation earlier today, in the debate which the Deputy requested, I was in touch with the director of primary care services who has committed to examine the matter. None of us wants to see terminally ill patients dying in hospital when they could die at home with the help of home care packages. As is always the way with any request for additional resources - it is a very strict rule that I have - the service provider must establish and show that it provides best value for money and that it uses its existing resources to the maximum extent possible before receiving any more.

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