Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I, too, want to be associated with the condolences expressed.

I am taking this matter today on behalf of the Minister for Health. I would like to thank Senator Carrigy for raising this important issue. The Government is strongly committed to providing high-quality, evidence-based palliative care in Ireland. The Department of Health, in line with the national palliative care policy of 2001, is committed to furthering the development of palliative care across the country, ensuring a seamless pathway for patients who need palliative care across inpatient, home care, nursing home and day care services. St. Joseph's Care Centre, Longford, provides 24-hour nursing care for up to 68 residents in an invaluable service that is embedded in the community. There are planned refurbishment works for St. Joseph's Care Centre in Longford and the HSE is committed to providing a second palliative care support bed when works are complete. The HSE has held meetings with the Longford hospice committee and will continue to do so to review the plans to achieve the optimum location to facilitate the second palliative care support bed. Currently, the HSE in the region also has a consultant-led specialist palliative care team that supports individuals in their homes. It engages with community nursing staff and midland regional hospital to support patients and families.

In September 2022, the Taoiseach announced capital funding of €20 million to progress the development of a 20-bed specialist palliative care unit in the midlands. The announcement of this funding is a significant milestone for palliative care in the midlands and will deliver on the programme for Government commitment to progress plans for a specialist palliative unit in the midlands. The new hospice will be co-located at the midland regional hospital and will provide a hub for the provision of specialist palliative care services across the midlands, including day care, outpatient and inpatient community services.

In line with the programme for Government, the extensive refurbishment of St. Joseph's Care Centre in Longford aims to prioritise and protect the most vulnerable. The HSE has committed to providing a second palliative care support bed at the site when works are complete and is engaging with Longford hospice committee about the plans. This Government will continue to work with local organisations to ensure that people with life-limiting conditions across the country receive the level of palliative care they require.

In the time that I have left, I wish to state that while the response is a very comprehensive answer in respect of the midlands, it does not answer the Senator's specific question about beds in Longford. I propose to set up a meeting between the Senator, his colleagues, the Minister for Health and representatives of the HSE locally to discuss the timeline and the funding, and where we are with the delivery of a second palliative care bed for the Longford region.