John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I ask the Leas-Cheann Comhairle to convey our thanks to the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this very important topic for discussion. There is not a family in Dublin and the surrounding area that has not benefitted from the overwhelming gentleness and the unobtrusive caring and professional support of the hospice teams in Harold's Cross and Blackrock whether operating within the actual hospices themselves or through the home visiting teams. Last Sunday, I had the privilege of attending with a number of my colleagues the annual "Light up a Life" ceremony in Harold's Cross. There were over 10,000 people in attendance, most of them families of all ages. It struck me as I left that we talk about six degrees of separation whereas there is probably only one degree of separation when it comes to lives that have been affected and touched in a hugely positive way by the work of the hospice movement.

The backdrop on Sunday was a state-of-the-art education and research centre which is an indication that the hospice movement and the services it provides are moving from strength to strength and growing. The State is going to become ever-more dependent on what is, by and large and in particular in relation to the home-visit service, a voluntary service provided by the teams within the hospices. A new palliative section has been constructed which was not funded by the HSE. The hospice hopes the HSE will see its way to funding equipment grants up to €1.6 million and the second phase. My colleagues, Deputy O'Callaghan and Deputy Curran, will I am sure develop those themes.

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