Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 226: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the uniform funding available for hospices here; if there are plans to increase the number of hospices around the country; if there are proposals to increase funding to existing hospices; her views on the matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18681/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The report of the National Advisory Committee on Palliative Care was published in October 2001. The Report made a number of recommendations for the future development of palliative care services in Ireland.

The Department, the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the voluntary sector are actively involved in planning for the development of palliative care services in line with the recommendations of 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. A Baseline Study (launched March 2006) was undertaken by the Irish Hospice Foundation, supported by the Health Service Executive and the Atlantic Philanthropies. The Study tracks services on a regional basis against the recommendations of the Report of the National Advisory Committee.

The Baseline Study indicated that there are regional variances across the country in the provision of hospice/specialist palliative care services. The Department 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.

Additional 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 under Budget 2007 to develop services. This funding is being used to improve palliative care services in consultation with the newly established HSE Regional Development Committees and in line with the recommendations made in the report of the National Advisory Committee.

As outlined in Towards 2016, the Government is committed to further developing palliative care throughout Ireland with particular reference to the Baseline Study on the provision of Hospice/Specialist Palliative Care Services.

In 2007, the Department will be working with the HSE on developing a paediatric palliative care policy in line with the Report. The HSE, which is now charged with the operational responsibility for delivery of healthcare services, is also committed to a number of further initiatives this year including rolling out the Minimum Data-Set for Palliative Care Services and agreeing a framework for National Standards for Palliative Care with the relevant stakeholders.

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 227: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when a dedicated palliative care unit at a centre (details supplied) will be put in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18754/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular case raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.