Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 135: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that palliative care for cancer sufferers is being provided by charities in a number of cases around the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10861/07]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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The Department and the Health Services Executive (HSE) are actively committed to working with the voluntary sector 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). The Department continues to support the development of a partnership model when dealing with both the voluntary and statutory sector which provides important opportunities for hospice and palliative care services.

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 is being allocated in Budget 2007, to develop services. 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 National Advisory Committee report.

The partnership approach between the statutory and voluntary sectors has facilitated the provision of additional specialist in-patient beds around the country. Examples include ten specialist in-patient beds provided in Milford Hospice in Limerick. There has also been agreement to establish four additional specialist in-patient beds in Galway Hospice. Furthermore, provision has been made for extra community support beds for palliative care in Tuam, Co Galway. The Laois Hospice has provided funding for two additional beds in Mountmellick in Co. Laois, with the staffing cost to be borne by the HSE.