Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 24: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if there are plans to develop a national framework of palliative care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2715/08]

Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Programme for Government, the Government has committed to removing the regional disparities in the provision and funding of palliative care, and to ensuring that the needs of all those who require palliative care are met. The Department of Health and Children is committed to working with the HSE and other key stakeholders in developing palliative care services throughout Ireland.

Funding is being provided for the development of palliative care services in line with the recommendations in the Report of the National Advisory Committee on Palliative Care (2001) and in the context of available resources and workforce planning across the health service. Additional funding totalling €18 million was provided by the Government in Budgets 2006 and 2007. A further €3 million was allocated under Budget 2008 to develop services. This funding is being used to improve palliative care services in consultation with the HSE Regional Development Committees and in line with the recommendations made in the 2001 Report.

In 2007, the Department of Health and Children set up a working group to develop a policy on children's palliative care in line with the 2001 Report. Their draft policy document is currently being finalised.

The HSE is developing a five-year capital and revenue implementation framework, in consultation with the Irish Association for Palliative Care, the Irish Hospice Foundation and the Irish Cancer Society. Work is ongoing on the development of this plan and good progress has been made to-date.