Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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Question 224: To ask the Minister for Health if he will give an assurance that adequate home care will be provided to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary thus continuing the level of care they receive from the Jack and Jill Foundation and to allow that charity to step back from this case; if he will explain the reason there are regional discrepancies in the provision of care by the Health Service Executive for children in similar cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16023/12]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The Health Service Executive (HSE) is working with the Jack and Jill Foundation to identify and prioritise the needs of each child on a case-by-case basis to ensure that no child is hospitalised for want of adequate home support, provided by either the Foundation or the HSE. In relation to the child referred to by the Deputy in his question the HSE in conjunction with the Brothers of Charity Services has endeavoured to facilitate the family's wishes to meet his needs within the resources available. The HSE wrote to the family the family on 23 February asking them to clarify how they wished the HSE to proceed.

The Jack and Jill Foundation service is part of a range of services provided to families funded by the HSE and its other contracted service providers for children with life limiting conditions (approximately 1,300 children in total). Many children availing of services provided by the Jack and Jill Foundation also avail of other specialist hospital based and community based health supports and disability services. e HSE is committed to working with the Jack and Jill Foundation in a spirit of partnership and positive collaboration. e HSE aim is to ensure that all children with life limiting conditions would receive services on an equitable basis and through a standardised approach to be progressed through the children's palliative care steering group. The National Policy, "Palliative Care for Children with Life – Limiting conditions in Ireland" will ensure a national approach to the provision of services for children with life limiting conditions. All services and service providers will be governed by this approach. The implementation of the Policy's key recommendations involves the appointment of Ireland's first Paediatric Palliative Care Consultant and the appointment of 8 outreach nurses to support the care of children in the home. Dr. Karen Ryan has been appointed as the Paediatric Palliative Care Consultant.

The HSE has recognised the need to increase the level of consistency and standardisation in the way both early intervention services and services for school-aged children with disabilities are delivered. The HSE is currently engaged in a reconfiguration of existing therapy resources to geographic based teams for children (0-18 years). The project is organised at national, regional and local level and includes representatives from the health and education sectors, service providers (statutory and non-statutory) and parents working together to see how current services can be reorganised. A detailed action plan is being implemented with the following objectives:

One clear pathway to services for all children with disabilities according to need

Resources used to the greatest benefit for all children and families

Health and education working together to support children to achieve their potential