Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 105: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when she expects hospice care to be available to the people of Wicklow; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45497/08]

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 125: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if there will be a delay in the plans to provide a hospice in Waterford to serve the needs of the south east; the reason for this delay; if she will restore the original timeframe; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45496/08]

Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 105 and 125 together.

The Specialist Palliative Care In-Patient Unit for Waterford is currently included in the Development Control Plan (D.C.P) for Waterford Regional Hospital, which is nearing completion. It is anticipated that the appointed architects will commence design of the Hospital D.C.P in January 2009. The Design Team and HSE Estates Management will continue to liaise closely with relevant key stakeholders in Palliative Care in finalising this plan.

Palliative Care Services in Wicklow are currently provided by a multidisciplinary team including General Practitioners, Public Health Nurses, Community Registered General Nurses, Health Care Assistants and Clinical Nurse Specialists in Palliative Care. The planning and delivery of palliative care services are a matter for the Health Service Executive.

The HSE recently advertised for vacant posts for the Community Palliative Care Nursing Service in Wicklow and it is hoped to fill these posts towards the end of January next. The Public Health Nursing Service dealing with palliative care in Wicklow links closely with Blackrock Hospice to enable clients avail of respite care/hospice care and day care. The future development of Palliative Care Services in Wicklow envisages a specialist hospice to be built in Wicklow to support patients in that area.

The HSE are currently developing a Five year Capital Plan for Specialist Palliative Care services which will include all proposed capital developments nationally. The timeframes and costings associated with each development, including Waterford, will be included and prioritised in the context of this Plan and in line with overall capital and non-capital resources available to the Executive.

I wish to stress that both of the proposed developments hope to be considered by the HSE in the context of its overall priorities for Palliative Care and in line with agreed capital revenue resources.