Maria Corrigan (Fianna Fail)

I join Senator Feeney in commending Senator Mullen on raising this issue. I acknowledge the increased recognition and dedicated funding that has been provided by the Government in recent times for palliative care services. This has been a welcome development. While we will always feel there should be additional funding and everyone in the Chamber can identify areas of need, some positive steps have been taken. I welcome the report and the goals set down by the Government in this area.

I have been struck by how much families with whom I have come in contact depend on the services provided by people such as those in the hospice movement. In my area I am often contacted by families who wish their family members could access the excellent support and care provided by the hospices in Harold's Cross and Blackrock. This situation is mirrored throughout the country and is testament to the tremendous work, expertise and skills developed within the hospice movement.

I am aware also of the excellent work that has been done to support families in settings other than hospitals by hospice outreach teams. The Minister of State should be aware that it is important we continue to support such practical measures. These supports can make a real difference to how people end their lives and provide support to families who would like to exercise the option of keeping their loved one in the family home or in a nursing home to which they have become accustomed. In a situation of which I am aware, a family member who had reached a difficult stage of illness and had wanted to go to a particular hospice had become very comfortable and settled in the nursing home. The hospice outreach team provided tremendous support to the nursing home staff, the individual and the family. We cannot measure the comfort that provided to the person and family at an incredibly sad time. Senator Quinn mentioned trying to address the fear of dying or of dying alone. Whatever measures we propose and undertake, we would like to ensure a system has been put in place to ensure that at an incredibly sad and difficult time for families, practical support is available to provide comfort.

There are other issues we need to address, especially with regard to children who suffer life-limiting conditions. I welcome the first hospice for children which is being constructed in Leopardstown with the support of the Laura Lynn Foundation. We hear from families concerned with this project that sometimes it is not just a question of having access to a hospice but of having the opportunity to access respite on a temporary basis to give the family a break or to access a support or outreach team which will help ensure the home can become a safe and comfortable place in which the person will end his or her life. This is about increasing awareness, recognition and our own skills and not just about funding. I pay tribute to those who have undertaken significant work to date and who set an example as a result of the word-of-mouth commendations following the experiences families had initially through the hospice movement. This has challenged us all to consider this issue and to consider what supports can be put in place. I commend Senator Mullen for tabling the motion and I ask the Minister of State to set concrete goals, to continue to ensure dedicated funding is made available and to include the experiences of family members in future service developments.