Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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407. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost of fully resourcing a clear timetable and process for the implementation of the Palliative Care Services Three Year Development Framework 2017-2019 and the ring-fenced development funding outlined in the Sláintecare report [29434/19]

Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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The HSE's Palliative Care Services Three Year Development Framework 2017-2019 aims to inform and direct the development of adult palliative care services, both generalist and specialist, in Ireland. This is against the backdrop of an aging population in Ireland, coupled with increasing numbers of deaths from cancer, dementia, and neurodegenerative disease, with an associated palliative care need.

The Steering Group which produced the Framework estimated that a total of €41.06 million would be required to properly implement the Framework’s recommendations, including €25 million for the associated revenue costs of new Inpatient Units and hospices, with the remainder for eliminating existing staffing deficits and to enable 50% statutory funding of Night Nursing Services, currently provided through charitable funding.

The Sláintecare Report recommends an investment of €50million to cover the above, of which €8.8m was identified for the development of palliative care services for children.