Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I want to thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. I want to thank him for the work he did to advocate for that family. As the Deputy said, his parents wanted to bring their little man home. If the Deputy had not raised the issue here, that might not have happened. That little man is at home tonight with the comfort of his parents and his two brothers, I am thankful that it is happening. Why did this happen? I cannot tell the Deputy that, but it should not have happened. At this most difficult time in their lives, nobody should have to be fighting for that care.

If one speaks to any older person about where they want to age, they will say that they want to age well at home. It is no different for a younger person. I was aware that the Deputy had raised this matter last week and I have followed it. I come from the same area as Deputy Lowry, more or less. Waterford and Tipperary are covered by community health organisation 5.

Across 2021 and 2022, funding has been allocated for the recruitment of 12 and a half additional whole-time equivalents to enhance the provision of children's palliative care services across acute and community settings. These include additional posts for six and a half clinical nurse co-ordinators for children with life-limiting conditions, four consultant paediatricians with a special interest in palliative medicine, one paediatrician in palliative medicine and one clinical nurse specialist. These posts will support the provision of specialist palliative care to children as close to home as possible. That is the point, namely, it must be as close to home as possible. In addition, since 2021, €1.5 million in annual funding has been provided to support the services provided by the LauraLynn children's hospice. including in-patient symptom control, respite, end-of-life and bereavement care.

More recently, through budget 2023, an allocation of €3.7 million will be provided for new measures in palliative care. The new measures will enhance the provision of adult and children's specialist palliative care services throughout the country and will include funding to support bereavement services for parents and families who have experienced the death of a child, as well as increased funding for LauraLynn children's hospice.

The specialist palliative care team for children is based in Children's Health Ireland in Crumlin and works in close liaison with medical teams providing care to children in need of palliative care throughout the country. With regard to children's palliative care provision in the south Tipperary and south-east area, which the Deputy specifically mentioned, there are two clinical nurse co-ordinators for children with life-limiting conditions in the south east who support the provision of safe care in the home. When children are at end of life, they and their families deserve the best possible care and it is vital that such care is available when needed either in their home or in a hospital setting. The family needs to have the choice and decide as to whether it is the hospital or home setting, working with their consultant. Primary care services in south-east community healthcare, in conjunction with south-south-west hospital group, work to ensure a care plan based on patient need is in place.

A sustainable, long-term solution for the provision of paediatric palliative care services in the south east is under development and the south-east community healthcare organisation is actively working with Children's Health Ireland to progress the required supports in line with the model of care for children with life-limiting conditions. The Department and the HSE will continue to progress developments for children's palliative care services in Ireland, working towards the highest possible quality of end-of-life care and support for children with life-limiting illnesses throughout the country.

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