Tom Neville (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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417. To ask the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding a centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49245/18]

Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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My colleague, Simon Harris T.D., Minister for Health, had the pleasure of officially opening Milford Care Centre’s new specialist inpatient hospice at the start of this month. While Milford has continuously offered excellent palliative care for 40 years, it was recognised that the previous hospice unit no longer met best practice in maintaining the dignity and privacy of patients and their families. A new hospice building was designed to meet changing needs in palliative care and I share the Minister's confidence that the new building will meet the palliative care needs of the people of Limerick, Clare and North Tipperary for a long time to come.

Over the last five years, the Government has increased the number of specialist palliative care beds across the country by 50%. We are proud of this achievement, but recognise that many people do not have access to a specialist palliative care unit in their region. National palliative care policy seeks to ensure that there is a hospice serving every region in the country. Although good progress has been made on national policy recommendations, it is acknowledged that there are regions which still do not have access to specialist palliative inpatient care beds.

The Department of Health is working with the HSE to prepare the 2019 National Service Plan. This process is ongoing. The Department has asked the HSE to consider options for opening the additional four beds in 2019 having regard to the provision of palliative care services across the country within the overall envelope of resources available.