Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 146: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the recommendations that have been implemented arising from the report of the National Palliative Care Committee 2001; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6280/07]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Health and Children, the HSE and the voluntary sector are actively involved in planning for the development of palliative care services in line with the recommendations in the report of the National Advisory Committee on Palliative Care (2001). Funding is being provided for the development of such services on an incremental basis in line with the recommendations in the report and in the context of available resources and workforce planning across the health service.

Since October 2001, almost €22 million has been invested in palliative care services. Funding of €13 million (€9m in 2006, €4m in 2007) was provided by the Government for palliative care in Budget 2006. A further €5 million has been allocated in Budget 2007, to develop the service. This funding is being used to improve palliative care services in consultation with the newly established Regional Development Committees and in line with the recommendations made in the report of the National Advisory Committee.

A Baseline Study, on the recommendations contained in the Report was carried out and published in March 2006. It tracks services on a regional basis against the recommendations of the 2001 Report. The Study indicates that there are regional variances across the country in the provision of hospice/specialist palliative care. The Government is committed to working with the HSE and other key stakeholders to address the issues raised in the Baseline Study and to develop palliative care services throughout Ireland. The Government's commitment to further developing palliative care countrywide with particular reference to the Baseline Study is reiterated in Towards 2016.