Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy Leader. I welcome the Government's decision to re-designate four voluntary hospice providers from section 39 organisations to section 38 organisations. This will be hugely important for these centres, including Galway Hospice, St. Francis Hospice, Milford Care Centre, and Marymount Care Centre. The section 38 designation will now provide a defined level of service on behalf of the HSE for these hospices.

Hospices do such tremendous work. The hospice in Galway certainly has been supported by the families of people who have benefited from the services the hospice provides, both in their final days in the hospice or by having hospice care at home. The whole area of dying is so important and obviously will affect every family at some stage. The hospices provide such excellent care. I certainly welcome the decision of the Government and of the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, to allow that re-designation to put these hospices on a firmer financial footing so they will now be regarded as HSE facilities in the context of finance and staffing. This will ensure that these providers of adult specialist palliative care services can continue their vital work. I welcome the decision. It will be a game changer for the sustainability and viability of these hospices in the future.